The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of The Philippine Archipelago With Identification Keys and Species Accounts

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Reprinted from: Williams, Gary C., and Terrence M. Gosliner, eds. 2014. :
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118, USA. Published 15April14.
The Dangerously Venomous Snakes

of the Philippine Archipelago
with Identification Keys and Species Accounts
Alan E. Leviton 1, Rafe M. Brown 2, Cameron D. Siler 3

1
2 3
1 2 3
Photographs by Rafe M. Brown, Arvin C. Diesmos, Dong Lin, Aaron Lobo,

Cameron D. Siler, John Tashjian, Markus Oulehla, and Harold Voris
Illustrations by Emily Eng and Michael Garfield
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
IDENTIFICATION KEYS TO THE DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO479
TABLE OF TAXONOMIC EQUIVALENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491
SPECIES ACCOUNTS FOR THE DANGEROUSLY VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO 493
Elapidae: Elapinae (cobras, coral snakes, and kraits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493
Calliophis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493
Hemibungarus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494
Naja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
Ophiophagus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497
Elapidae: Hydrophiinae (sea snakes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499
Aipysurus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
Emydocephalus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501
Hydrophis (including Acalyptophis, Astrotia, Disteira, Enhydrina, Kerilia, Kolpophis,
Lapemis, Leioselasma, Pelamis, Praescutata, Thalassophis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501
Elapidae: Laticaudinae (sea kraits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Laticauda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Viperidae: Crotalinae (pitvipers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
Trimeresurus (Parias) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
Tropidolaemus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521
APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526
APPENDIX B: INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528
APPENDIX C: INDEX TO STANDARD ENGLISH NAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530
473
474 THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION
FIGURE 2.
Photo by Cameron D. Siler
LEVITON, BROWN, & SILER: PHILIPPINE VENOMOUS SNAKES 475
The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of the Philippine Archipelago
INTRODUCTION
o fewer than 33 species of dangerously venomous snakes inhabit the Philippine Islands
N and the surrounding coastal waters (41, if one includes eight sea snakes that have yet to
be found in Philippine coastal waters but are likely to occur there). Of the possible 41 species, 26
are sea snakes and except for two, Laticauda colubrina and L. laticaudata, none voluntarily come
onto land (although some sea snakes may wash ashore during severe weather). The remaining 15
species are terrestrial living in various habitats on land and in freshwater. Several terrestrial
species, such as Tropidolaemus [formerly Trimeresurus] subannulatus [formerly wagleri], favor
arboreal habitats and seldom descend to the ground. All terrestrial species can swim, and some reg-
ularly occur near human habitations, in agricultural areas, and typically around sources of water
such as flooded rice fields, rivers, and streams.
Two families of dangerously venomous snakes are represented in the Philippine herpetofauna,
Elapidae (including sea snakes [subfamilies Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae]), and Viperidae. A
number of mildly venomous snakes occur in the archipelago as well, and most are members of the
highly diverse snake family Colubridae; these include the rear-fanged Asian vine-snakes (Ahaetul-
la), cat-eyed snakes (Boiga), mock viper (Psammodynastes), and two aquatic and semi-aquatic
snakes (Enhydris, Cerberus). How dangerous any of these are to humans is still an open matter for
research. Several of the supposedly non-venomous Asian colubrids have been shown to have toxic
salivas, and some can be considered mildly, if not dangerously, venomous. Some non-Philippine
watersnakes (selected species of Tropidonophis and Rhabdophis) have been shown to be life threat-
ening to humans but to date, in the Philippines none of these genera have been shown to be dan-
gerous. What we do know is that we often underestimate the severity of many snakebites of both
juvenile dangerously venomous and supposedly non-dangerously venomous snakes. Yet, bites of
just such animals have been implicated in the deaths of several knowledgeable professional her-
petologists, notably Karl Patterson Schmidt who, in 1957 at the age of 67, was bitten by a juvenile
boomslang (Dispholidus typus), an African rear-fanged snake, and died a day later; in 1965, Fred
Shannon, M.D., was bitten by Crotalus scutellatus, and a few years later, in 1975, Robert Mertens,
was bitten by another African rear-fanged snake, Thelotornis capensis, and both died as a result of
the bites. And, most recently, in 2001, Joseph Slowinski, at the age of 38, was bitten by a 30 cm
long juvenile krait, Bungarus wanghaotingi, and
died within 48 hours.
At this point we emphasize that extreme care
should be exercised when handling any snake, even
those that are supposedly non-venomous. It is not
always possible to tell the difference between ven-
omous and non-venomous species without careful
inspection. In the Philippines, for instance, several
snakes are black with white bandings; among these
are Lycodon subcinctus, Calamaria lumbricoidea,
juveniles of several species of Oxyrhabdion,
FIGURE 1. Looks can be deceiving. A field colleague
Oligodon, and Chrysopelea, as well as the six
recently picked up and photographed this innocent-
species of venomous snakes that are referred to the looking snake in the belief it was a non-venomous
genera Hemibungarus and Calliophis. The snakes species of . It is, in fact, a coral snake, of the
of the first group are non-venomous, the latter two, genus . Photo by N. Antoque.
Hemibungarus and Calliophis, dangerously venomous. The only definitive way to know whether
a dark and light banded snake is a venomous or non-venomous species is to examine the side of
the head just in front of the eye to see if a loreal scale (see fig. on p. 480) is present. If it is absent,
the snake may well be a venomous species. In the illustrated keys that follow, these and other defin-
ing characters are clearly noted.
With respect to the treatment of snake-bites, again it cannot be overstated that all bites should
be taken seriously. It is true that a large percentage of bites, even by dangerously venomous snakes,
are “dry bites,” that is bites in which no envenomation occurs. Because it is not always possible to
know immediately following a bite whether or not envenomation has occurred, it is imperative to
seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible. More complete instructions are available
in other publications, several of which are given in the bibliography (see in particular WHO 1999
and Lewin [this volume]).
The snake fauna of the Philippines is reasonably well known, although there are areas of the
country that have not been thoroughy investigated, especially parts of Luzon, Mindanao, and
Palawan. It should be emphasized that precise knowledge of the kinds of venomous snakes pres-
ent is imperative if one is going to receive effective medical treatment for a snakebite. For instance,
in the Philippines, heretofore, only one species with three subspecies of the Philippine cobra was
recognized, Naja naja, but extensive work by investigators demonstrated that in reality the three
subspecies are quite distinct and are now recognized as full species. However, in the Philippines,
only one antivenin is manufactured and readily available, for Naja philippinensis. The importance
of this can be appreciated when one considers that to treat a snakebite one must often use species-
specific antivenom in as much as the antivenom used to treat one kind of snakebite may not work
for the bites of other species. Whether the species-specific antivenom for the Philippine cobra, Naja
philippinensis, works for other cobra snakebites is not known.
The Philippines has a highly diverse fauna. And as a result of recent surveys, starting in the
1950s by the late Walter C. Brown of Menlo College, California, and and his colleague Angel
Alcala, then at Silliman University, Dumaguete, and thanks to recent field work throughout the
archipelago, knowledge of the faunal diversity has improved greatly. It is hoped that this contribu-
tion will enable those engaged in the study of the fauna in the field and the laboratory to recognize
more readily the most dangerous components of that fauna.
The present work represents an effort with a single purpose, to aid in the identification of ven-
omous snakes of the Philippines. Thus, we have made no attempt to provide inclusive synonymies,
which are available in several of the works we cite, namely, Taylor (1922a), Leviton (1964a,
1964b), Golay et al. (1993), McDiarmid, Campbell and Touré (1999), and David and Ineich (1999).
Where necessary, we provide additional references. DESCRIPTIONS of individual species are inten-
tionally brief, but they include the data necessary for confirmation of identifications. The data for
SIZE refer to known maximum lengths recorded for the species; when available, total and tail
lengths for males and females are given separately. In the statements on DISTRIBUTION, we list only
the country for non-Philippine localities and, where known, to Island and/or Province within the
Philippines (see map, p. 492).
We accept names for all of the dangerously venomous snake species in the Philippines that rep-
resent the most current taxonomic arrangements, although with respect to sea snakes we have fol-
lowed Sanders et al. (2013) (see also Pyron et al. 2013) in the use of generic assignments of species
and Rasmussen et al. (2011) for subfamily assignments. We provide a brief table of equivalencies
(p. 487) so that those familiar with older names can quickly locate the species of interest. For
instance, in the Philippines, snakes formerly referred to collectively as Trimeresurus wagleri, have
been assigned to two different species under the genus name Tropidolaemus (i.e., T. philippensis
and T. subannulatus); the annulated or barred coral snake, Calliophis calligaster, is now placed in
the genus Hemibungarus, whereas the banded coral snake, Maticora intestinalis, is referred to as
Calliophis intestinalis. In addition, in recent years, the pit vipers usually referred to the genus
Trimeresurus have been subjected to intense scrutiny and at times have been reassigned to several
genera, Trimeresurus, Parias, and, as already noted, Tropidolaemus. At the time of the writing of
this report, the species of pit vipers assigned to the nominal genus Parias, have been returned to
the genus Trimeresurus (e.g., T. flavomaculatus, T. mcgregori, and T. schultzei); however, some
researchers recognize Parias as a subgenus of Trimeresurus, and we have adopted that assignment
here, whereas Tropidolaemus is still valid as a distinct genus. These changes, though frequently
confusing to the non-specialist, often represent significant advances to our understanding of the
relationships and are important in leading to more effective treatment of snakebites by allowing for
the selection and administration of appropriate species-specific antivenoms.
Lastly, we emphasize that whereas we believe all snakes should be treated with care, ven-
omous or not, snakes are also highly beneficial to the ecosystem and should not be wantonly
destroyed because of fear. The vast majority of the Philippines’ 180+ species of snakes are not dan-
gerous to humans.
An early version of this publication titled “Keys to the dangerously venomous terrestrial
snakes of the Philippines” was published in the Silliman Journal (Leviton 1961). That publication
was followed by Angel Alcala’s 1986 treatment of the venomous snakes of the Philippines in vol-
ume X, Amphibians and Reptiles, in the Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna. Since these publi-
cations appeared, additional new information from both field and laboratory research has come to
light. Indeed, a number of groups in Europe and the United States are actively engaged in research
aimed at clarifying the taxonomy of the viperid genera Trimeresurus and Tropidolaemus, as well
as the elapid snakes in the genera Calliophis and Hemibungarus and the sea snakes. As a result, we
expect that the classification of the venomous snakes presented here will continue to change (see
Bibliography for references, especially for authors David, Ineich, and Vogel, Rasmussen et al.,
Thorpe, Maholtra, and Wüster).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors express their profound appreciation to Harold Voris, Doug Lin, and John Tashjian,
who are responsible for several of the photographs that are reproduced here. Please note that in
those figure legends where the words “Photo by” appear, copyright ownership of the images resides
with the individual acknowledged and not the California Academy of Sciences.
We owe a special thanks to our friend and collaborator A. C. Diesmos (National Museum of
the Philippines) for his continued support, past companionship in the field, for the use of photo-
graphs reproduced here, and for the logistical assistance he has generously provided through the
years.
And, lest we forget, one of us (AEL) wants to express his appreciation again to the staff of the
National Museum of Natural History, specifically George Zug, Addison Wynn, and Kenneth Tighe,
for their ongoing assistance in locating specimens and providing onsite work space.
Lastly, we thank Dr. Michele L. Aldrich who perused an early version of the manuscript with
extraordinary care and made substantive suggestions for improving the overall presentation. We are
also indebted to the external reviewers for their thoughtful comments. Dr. George Zug, in particu-
lar, suggested a number of changes, most of which we heartily accepted. Having said this, the
authors still bear full responsibility for their decisions to accept or reject specific recommendations
as well as for errors of commission or omission.
Fieldwork was supported partially by a National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation

Improvement grant (DEB 0804115 to CDS), Fulbright and Fulbright-Hayes Fellowships (to CDS);
and an NSF Biotic Surveys and Inventories grant (DEB 0743491 to RMB). We thank the Philip-
pine government's Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Philippine Department of
Environment and Natural Resources for facilitating field studies that involved numerous encoun-
ters with venomous snakes.
Alan E. Leviton, Rafe M. Brown, and Cameron D. Siler
06 January 2014
Identification Keys to the Species of Dangerously Venomous Snakes

of the Philippine Archipelago
GENERAL NOTE AND TAXONOMIC (NAME) CHANGES: This key has been formulated to accommo-
date only the dangerously venomous snakes known from the Philippine Islands. It should not be
used, even at the generic or familial group levels, to identify venomous snakes from outside the
archipelago. Colors mentioned in the keys are based on colors in life; in preservative, colors may
be lost or changed, greens turn bluish, reds are lost, and other bright colors become dull. In prepar-
ing this key and the species accounts that follow, we have been guided by the latest revisionary
studies, but we have also taken a conservative position because of the nature of the animals with
which we are working (see below). The section of the key dealing with the sea snakes (couplets 17
et seq.) has been modified from Smith (1926 and 1943 and Rasmussen, Elmberg, Gravlund, and
Ineich 2011). Furthermore, we have culled from the literature and adopted the most recent phylo-
genetic arrangement for the genera of viviparous sea snakes, notably that of Sanders et al. 2013, so
that many heretofore familar generic names, such as Enhydrina, Lapemis, and Pelamis, and their
included species, have been referred to the genus Hydrophis.
Also, we have, rather arbitrarily, chosen to accord all recognizably distinct allopatric sub-
species full species status rather than get embroiled in arguments of why raise one subspecies to
full species status but retain another as a subspecies, though both can be readily, though differen-
tially, diagnosed taxonomically. Arguments as to what constititues a biological “species” versus
“subspecies” are most often not fruitful and usually based on arbitrary assessments by a given
worker on just how “important” a character or character state is in inferring the “closeness” of bio-
logical affinities, i.e., the genealogical relationships among the parties.
As we have already mentioned (pp. 472–473), in recent years the most significant nomenclat-
ural changes have been in the allocation of species among genera of venomous snakes. Thus, we
hasten to emphasize, many of these changes are not to be taken lightly inasmuch as they reflect
important changes in our understanding of the relationships among these venomous snake species
and are highly relevant because of the significant medical implications, vis-a-vis the production
and use of antivenins in the treatment of snakebites.
Also, please note, many of the images have been provided by colleagues as a courtesy for the
express use of members of the Hearst Philippine Expedition participants; the images are owned and
copyrighted by the donors and must not be copied or otherwise distributed.
B C
G. Lateral and dorsal views of the head of a king cobra,

. Note in particular the absence of the loreal scale between
the postnasal and the preocular scales. This is characteristic of all
elapine snakes, but the absence must be used with care because a
number of non-venomous colubrine snakes also lack the loreal.
D E H. Lateral and dorsal view of a typical Philippine viperine snake,
Diagrams of head and body scalation in a typi- ( ) . Note the position of the
cal snake. : (A) lateral, (B) dorsal, sensory pit located on the side of the head between the
and (C) Ventral views. nostril and the eye.
and how best to count scale
rows. Body scales arranged in (D) oblique rows,
and (E) parallel rows.
Diagrams modified from Smith (1943)
I J
Diagrams of skulls of elapine ( ) (I) and crotaline viper ( ) (J) skulls.

(I) maxilla is attached to ectopterygoid and cannot rotate; small post-fang maxillary teeth usually behind venom
delivery fangs; (J) Maxillary bone small, rotates against ectopterygoid; no teeth behind venom delivery fangs.
Diagrams from Boulenger (1893, 3:373 and 3:518)
(max = maxillary bone; ect = ectoptygeroid bone)
FIGURES 3A–J. Diagrams of diagnostic scale and dental characters of Philippine snakes.
1a. Pupil of eye round; loreal scale absent (Fig. 4); venom fangs short, permanently erect; maxil-
lary bone elongate, usually with several small teeth behind front fangs (Family Elapidae,
including cobras, coral snakes, and sea snakes) (see Fig. 3I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1b. Pupil of eye vertically elliptical (Fig. 5A); loreal scale absent; upper surface of head either cov-
ered by small scales (Fig. 5B) or large, symmetrical scales; a deep sensory pit present imme-
diately behind the nostril (Fig. 5A); venom fangs variable in length, fixed to a short moveable
maxillary bone that allows for rotation of the fangs backward when the mouth is closed; no
teeth behind fangs (Family Viperidae) (see Fig. 3J). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2a. Tail flattened laterally, oar-like (Fig. 6A) (sea snakes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2b. Tail rounded, tapering (Fig. 6B) (terrestrial snakes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3a. Scales in 13–15 longitudinal rows at midbody; scales on sides of body variable, in either
oblique or parallel rows (Figs. 3D, 3E, 8A, and 8B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3b. Scales in 17–25 longitudinal rows at midbody; scales on sides of body in oblique rows [Fig.
3D, also Fig. 8A for Ophiophagus] (Genus Naja). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4a. Scales on sides of body in oblique rows (Figs. 3D, 8A); number of scales on posterior third of
body at least two less than on anterior third (Balabac, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro,
Negros, Panay, Palawan, Polillo). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ophiophagus hannah (Fig. 7A)
4b. Scales on sides of body in parallel rows (Figs. 3E, 8B); number of scales on posterior third of
body equal to number on anterior third. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5a. Scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midhody (Genus Hemibungarus). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5b. Scales in 13 longitudinal rows at midbody (Genus Calliophis). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6a. Black rings on dorsum of body not divided by narrow white annuli; temporal region heavily
pigmented with melanin; white annuli on dorsum usually less than 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
FIGURE 4. Pupil of eye of ; loreal scale absent.
A B
FIGURES 5A–B. : (A) Lateral view of head (B) Dorsal view of head.
A B
FIGURES 6A–B. Tails of sea snakes (A. laterally compressed, paddle-shaped) and
terrestrial snakes (B. not compressed, rounded and tapering toward tip).
6b. Black rings on dorsum of body divided by narrow white annuli; temporal region not heavily
pigmented with melanin; white annuli on dorsum usually more than 60; ventral shields: (♂)
197–216, (♀) 218–227 (Cebu, Negros, Panay). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hemibungarus gemianulis
7a. Ventral shields: (♂) 223–233; (♀) 252–259 (Luzon). . . . . . . Hemibungarus calligaster (Fig. 9)
7b. Ventral shields: (♂) 206 (two specimens) (Polillo and adjacent Aurora Prov., Luzon). . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hemibungarus mcclungi
8a. Black crossbars on venter do not come in contact with black of sides; a distinct white line pres-
ent on sides occupying entire first scale row or parts of first and second rows (Balabac,
Busuanga, Culion, Palawan). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calliophis bilineata
8b. Black crossbars on venter contact black of sides; no distinct white line along outer scale rows
.......................................................................9
9a. Cream colored crossbars on venter do not extend on to side of body above first scale row (Jolo)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calliophis suluensis
9b. Cream colored crossbars on venter extend onto side of body, often to fourth scale row (Min-
danao, Samar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calliophis philippina (Fig. 10)
A
FIGURES 7A–B. Juneiles of (A) . and (B)

Photos.courtesy of (A) John Tashjian and (B) Markus Oulehla
A B
FIGURES 8A–B. Scales on sides of body: (A) slanting downward [oblique] ( );
(B) horizontal [parallel] ( ).
FIGURE 9. . FIGURE 10. .

Photo by Rafe Brown. Photo by Rafe Bown.
10a. Scales at midbody in 17–19 longitudinal rows; ground color above black or dark brown. . . 11
10b. Scales at midbody in 21–23 longitudinal rows; above color uniform light brown or olive; ven-
trals 180–196 (Catanduanes, Luzon, Mindoro). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Naja philippinensis (Fig. 7B)
11a. A few anterior ventrals light yellow followed by band of black that gradually fades posterior-
ly; ventrals 162–178 (Bohol, Leyte, Mindanao, Samar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Naja samarensis
11b. Venter dark or light but without a distinctive black band on anterior portion; ventrals 178–189
(Culion, Palawan). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Naja sumatrana
12a. Scales on head and chin smooth; second upper labial fused to scale forming anterior border of
facial pit (Fig. 11A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
l2b. Scales on head and chin strongly keeled; second upper labial separated from scale forming
anterior border of facial pit (Fig. 11B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
A B
FIGURES 11A–B. Lateral view of heads of (A) ( ) and (B)

.
13a. Scale rows at midbody, (♂) 21–23 , (♀) 21–29; internasals separated by 2 (rarely 1) scales,
never in contact; 3rd upper labial usually separated from subocular by 1 or 2 scales; scales on
snout along a straight line from rostral to level of supraoculars, (♂) 4–7, (♀) 5–8; scales on
dorsum of head on a line between supraoculars 9–16; color variable, shades of green, blue or
green and blue in females, green in males but blue in some Negros populations; crossbands
around body blue and white, red and white, or blue, red and white; postocular stripe in
females variable, in males white or red, and red in juveniles; ventrals (♂) 128–148, (♀)
127–147; subcaudals (♂) 45–53, (♀) 40–54 (Balabac, Basilan, Bohol, Dinagat, Jolo, Leyte,
Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Samar, Sibutu, Tumindao) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tropidolaemus subannulatus (Fig. 12A–C)
A C
FIGURES 12A–C. : (A) Luzon, female; (B) Luzon, male; (C) Negros, female.
Photos by Rafe Brown.
13b. Scale rows at midbody 18–19; internasals separated by 1 or 2 scales, never in contact; 3rd
upper labial usually in contact with subocular or rarely separated by only 1 scale; scales on
snout along a straight line from rostral to level of supraoculars (♂) 4–5, (♀) 5; scales on dor-
sum of head on line between supraoculars 6–8; color green-turquoise background color in
males, green in females; postocular stripe in black, rarely white, in both females and males;
ventrals (♂) 131–135, (♀) 129; subcaudals (M) 45–46, (♀) 44 (Leyte, Mindanao, Samar). . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tropidolaemus philippensis
14a. Tail not distinctly differentiated from body by color; hemipenes without spines. . . . . . . . . 15
14b. Tail distinctly differentiated from body by color; hemipenes spinose (Balabac, Palawan). . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trimeresurus (Parias) schultzei (Fig. 13)
15a. Dorsal color lacks dark pigments except for a scattering of dark dorsal blotches; yellow in life
(white in alcohol) (Batan Island). . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Trimeresurus (Parias) mcgregori (Fig. 14)
15b. Dorsal color with dark pigments present, usually blue green, green or dark blue gray (Camigu-
in, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Siquijor). . . . . . . . Trimeresurus (Parias) flavomaculatus (Fig. 15)
FIGURE 13. ( ) FIGURE 14. ( ) .

Photo by Rafe Brown. Photo by Rafe Brown.
A B
FIGURES 15A–B. Variation in color pattern in ( ) .

Photos by Rafe Brown.
Seasnakes
(N.B. Several species included in this section of the keys have yet to be reported from Philippine waters but have been
found in neighboring areas, off the coast of northern Borneo and/or elsewhere in the South China Sea region [indicated by
boldface type]). Also, recent phylogenetic studies of the sea snake genus and allied genera, have resulted in major
changes in the the generic assignment of species. Those changes are indicated here by enclosing formerly recognized gen-
era in brackets [ ] following the now current name for the species, e.g., , formerly , is shown
below as [ ] .
16a. Ventral scales large, one-third to more than one-half the width of the body (Fig. 16A); nostrils
lateral or superior, nasal scales in contact or separated separated by internasals. . . . . . . . . . 17
16b. Ventral scales small, less than one-fourth width of body, often smaller than or at least not larg-
er than adjacent body scales (Fig. 16B); nostrils variable, internasal scales absent, nasal scales
in contact with one another. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A B
FIGURES 16A–B. Ventral scales in sea snakes: (A) large ventral scales in ( );
(B) small ventral scales in ( ) and other sea snakes.
17a. Nostrils lateral; nasals separated by internasals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

17b. Nostrils superior; nasals in contact with one another. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18a. Scales in 19 longitudinal rows at midbody; no azygous prefrontal scale (Fig. 17A); ventrals
225–243. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laticauda laticaudata (Fig. 18A)
FIGURES 17A–B. Azygous prefrontal scale: (A) absent in ; (B) present in
A B
FIGURES 18A–B. (A) . Photo courtesy John Tashjian; (B) . Photo by Dong Lin.
18b. Scales in 21–25 longitudinal rows at midbody; an azygous prefrontal scale usually present
(Fig. 17B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
19a. Rostral not divided; upper lip yellow; ventrals 213–245. . . . . . Laticauda colubrina (Fig. 18B)
19b. Rostral divided horizontally; upper lip brown; ventrals 195–205; 30–42 bands on body. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laticauda semifasciata
20a. More than 72 scale rows around midbody. . . . . . . . . . . . . [ ]
20b. Fewer than 72 scale rows around midbody. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
21a. Rostral scale fragmented into 4 or 5 smaller scales; dorsal head scales with thickened edges
............................................ [ ]
21b. Not as above. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
22a. Three supralabials only, second very elongate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emydocephalus annulatus
22b. Not as above. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
23a. Ventrals much broader anteriorly than posteriorly. . . . . . . . [ ]
23b. Ventrals uniformily small. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
24a. Ventral scales small but distinct throughout, undivided by a median groove (Fig. 19B) or, if
divided posteriorly (Fig. 19C), the two halves either apposed or alternating with one another,
head very small and front half of body long and very slender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
24b. Ventral scales, if distinct, then either divided by a median groove (Fig. 19C) or smaller than
adjacent body scales (Fig. 19A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
25a. Not more than 23 scales aboud the thickest part of body. . . . . . . . [ ]
25b. At least 25 or more scales around thickest part of body. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
26a. Head scales regular, usually entire (Fig. 20A); nasal scales in contact with one another; pre-
ocular present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
26b. Head scales, especially frontal and parietal, more or less fragmented (Fig. 20B) . . . . . . . . . .
.............................................. [ ]
27a. Mental scale normal (Fig. 21A), not hidden in symphysis grove; ventrals uniform in size;
1–18 maxillary teeth behind fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
27b. Mental scale elongate, partially hidden in groove in symphysis (Fig. 21B); ventrals uniform
in size; 3–5 maxillary teeth behind fangs . . . . . . . [ ] (Fig. 22)
28a. Scales on thickest part of body hexagonal or quadrangular in shape, weakly imbricate or jux-
taposed (Fig. 23A); 8–18 maxillary teeth behind fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
28b. Scales on thickest part of body with rounded or bluntly pointed tips, distinctly or weakly
imbricate (Fig. 23B); 1–8 maxillary teeth behind fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
29a. Head very small, body long and very slender anteriorly (Fig. 24A); 5–6 maxillary teeth behind
front fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
29b. Head not distinctly reduced, body not particularly slender anteriorly (Fig. 24B); head and
body grayish above, white below; ventrals 195–281; 8–18 maxillary teeth behind fangs. . . . 31
30a. Head black with yellowish spots; body grayish above, white below; scales in 25–30 longitu-
dinal rows around neck, 39–49 around thickest part of body; ventrals 323–452. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis atriceps
30b. Head blackish with a curved yellow mark across snout and extending backwards along sides
of head and sometimes a connecting yellow band or two across frontal and parietal region,
body greyish above, yellowish while below, with 60–80 dark grey bands, usually encircling
body anteriorly; markings often lost in older adults; 37–45 scales around midbody; ventrals
328–414. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A B C
FIGURE 19. Ventral scales in hydrophiine sea snakes (adapted from Smith, 1926, pls. I and II ). (A) undivided and
indistinguishable from adjacent scales ( [ ] ); (B) usually distinguishable from adjacent
scales ( ); (C) divided by a longitudinal groove ( )
A B C
FIGURES 20A–C. Scales on dorsum of head: (A) scales unfragmented ( [ ] ) and
(B) ( ); (C) frontal and parietal head scales fragmented ( [ ] .
A B
FIGURES 21A–B. Mental scale: (A) normal, neither elongate nor partially hidden from view in mental symphysis
( ); (B) elongate mental scale partially hidden in mental symphysis when mouth is
closed ( [ ] )
FIGURE 22. [ ] . Photo courtesy of Harold Voris.
31a. 26–36 dark middorsal blotches or bands on body; anteriorly interspaces between dorsal dark
body bands more than 2 scale rows wide; 4–6 dark bands on tail; 37–45 scale rows around
neck; ventral scales 258–306; 9–12 maxillary teeth behind front fangs. . . Hydrophis lamberti
31b. 39–45 dark middorsal blotches or bands on body; anteriorly interspaces between dorsal dark
body blotches or bands less than 2 scale rows wide; 8–11 dark bands on tail; 31–39 scale rows
around neck; ventral scales 224–294; 9–12 maxillary teeth behind front fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis ornatus
32a. Usually one anterior temporal (Fig. 25A); 25–31 scale rows around neck; 6–8 upper labials
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
32b. Usually two anterior temporals (Fig. 25B); 31–43 scale rows around neck. . . . . . . . . . . . 33
33a. 14–18 maxillary teeth behind front fangs; 31–43 scales around neck, 38–54 around midbody;
ventrals 253–334. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis caerulescens
33b. Less than 14 maxillary teeth behind front fangs (usually 10 or fewer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
34a. Head in adult olive or yellowish (in young, head may be black or dark olive); black ventral
stripe often present but less distinct in older adults; dorsal portions of black body annuli per-
sist even in older adults; ventrals 290–390. . . . . . . . . Hydrophis cyanocinctus (Figs. 26A–B)
34b. Head in adult black; body black with 50 to 60 narrow whitish bands or annuli; ventrals usu-
ally black; ventrals 314–356 (restricted to Lake Taal [Bombon], Luzon). . . Hydrophis semperi
35a. Usually 5 upper labials, rarely 6; 22–27 scale rows around neck; ventrals 360–415; one ante-
rior temporal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35b. Usually 6 or 7 upper labials, rarely 5; 23–31 scale rows around neck, usually greater than 24;
one anterior temporal, sometimes divided into two superimposed scales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
36a. Longitudinal rows of scales increases by 4–8 rows from neck to midbody (25–29[neck]/
33–38[midbody] + 4–8 increase in rows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis spiralis (Figs. 26C–D)
36b. Longitudinal rows of scales increases by 8–18 rows from neck to midbody; body greatly com-
pressed posteriorly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
37a. Head black with yellow markings; head small, body long and slender anteriorly, compressed
posteriorly; 40–55 dark bands on body; 23–27 scale rows around neck, 33–41 around mid-
body; 6–8 maxillary teeth behind front fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37b. Head black in young with or without a yellow curved mark above, greyish, olive, or yellow-
ish in adult; head moderate, body elongate, compressed posteriorly; 25–31 scale rows around
neck, 37–45 around midbody; 60–80 dark bands on body, fading in adults; 4–5 maxillary teeth
behind front fangs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis belcheri
38a. Midbody scales in 25–43 rows around body; dorsal scales hexagonal, juxtaposed. . . . . . . . 39
38b. Midbody scales in 47–67 rows around body; dorsal scales juxtaposed, or imbricate. . . . . . 40
39a. Head small, anteriorly body elongate and narrow; scale rows around neck 17–23; scales
A B
FIGURES 23A–B. Scales on thickest part of body: (A) hexagonal or quadrangular in shape ( );
(B) scales rounded or with bluntly pointed tips ( ).
1 After Smith (1926): “represents the number of scale rows on the neck and body, and the increase in the number of
scale rows from neck to midbody.”

FIGURES 24A–B. Head and body dimensions: (A) head and anterior fourth of body slender ( );
(B) head and anterior portion of body not distinctly narrowed ( )
A B
FIGURES 25A–B. Anterior temporal scales: (A) one anterior temporal scale ( );
(B) two anterior temporals scales ( ).
B D
FIGURES 26A–D. (A–B) ; (C–D) Photos courtesy of Harold Voris.
around midbody 30–43; lowermost lateral scale rows slightly larger than upper lateral scales;
dorsal scales posteriorly hexagonal, juxtaposed; ventrals usually distinct on anterior fourth of
body, entire and broader than adjacent dorsal scales, posteriorly distinctly divided by a medi-
an groove. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis gracilis
39b. Head and neck normal, not narrow (Fig. 28); scale rows around neck 23–31; scale around mid-
body 25–43; dorsal scales, lowermost lateral scale rows larger than upper lateral scales
(Fig. 27D); ventrals usually distinct on anterior fourth of body, posteriorly barely larger than
adjacent scales or not enlarged at all, not divided by a longitudinal groove; greenish or olive
to gray above, whitish below, 35–55 narrow dark bands, occasionally uniform dark gray; 3–6
maxillary teeth behind each fang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis [Lapemis] curtus (Figs. 28–29)
40a. Dorsal scales pointed, strongly imbricate (Fig. 27B); ventrals in two halves; 6–7 maxillary
teeth behind each fang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis [Astrotia] stokesii
40b. Dorsal scales hexagonal, juxtaposed, lowermost lateral scale rows not larger than adjacent
upper lateral scales (Fig. 27C); midventral scales, when distinct, divided by a longitudinal
groove; bicolored, ordinarily black above, yellow below, with some variation in which yellow
extends farther up on the sides and the black is confined to a wide middorsal stripe; sometimes
black bars on belly; tail mottled yellow and black; 8–10 maxillary teeth behind front fangs. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrophis [Pelamis] platurus (Fig. 30)
A B C D
FIGURES 27A–D. Dorsal scales: (A) scales juxtaposted ( [ ] ); (B) scales imbricate (
[ ] ); (C) lowermost 3 or 4 lateral rows not larger than adjacent upper lateral scales ( [ ]
); (D) lowermost 3 or 4 lateral rows larger than upper lateral scales ( [ ] [ ])
FIGURE 28. [ ] FIGURE 29. [ ] [ ].

Photo courtesy of Harold Voris Photo of preserved specimen.
FIGURE 30. [ ] . Photo courtesy of John Tashjian.

Table of taxonomic equivalents for the Philippine venomous snakes

Current name Also know as
Terrestrial snakes
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
[ ]
Sea snakes
(east of the Straits of Malacca)
( , also as
)
(formerly included in )
(also includes from Philippines);

THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO

SPECIES ACCOUNTS OF THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE

PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO
Family ELAPIDAE
Subfamily Elapinae
Genus Gray, 1834
Gray, 1834. (Type species: Laurenti 1768).
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxilla extends forward beyond palatine; venom fangs followed by a diastema
and then by one small, solid tooth; head not distinct from neck; loreal absent; nostril between
nasals; eye small, pupil round; body cylindrical, elongate; tail short; scales smooth, in 13 longitu-
dinal rows at midbody; subcaudals paired; venom glands elongate, extending far back into body
cavity and terminating in an elongate, club-shaped end; hypapophyses present throughout vertebral
column.
GENERAL FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE SPECIES.— Dorsal scales in 13 longitudinal rows except
just behind the head where they are in 15 rows; precloacal scale undivided; venter usually with an
alternating series of black and light crossbars; head, at least posteriorly, dark.
REMARKS.— The species included here in Calliophis were, until recently, placed in the genus
Maticora. Apart from the reasignment of species formerly referred to Calliophis, Hemibungarus,
and Maticora by earlier authors (e.g., Leviton 1964, Toriba 1993, David and Ineich 1999 [q.v. for
additional references]) and contrary to previous analyses, Slowinski et al. (2001) demonstrated that
the type species of Calliophis and Maticora had been improperly assigned and that the type species
of Calliophis is Aspis intestinalis Laurenti, 1768, by monotypy and whose type locality is Java,
Indonesia (restricted by Leviton 1964:529).
Peters, 1881
Two Stripped Coral Snake
Figure 31
Peters, 1881:109 (type locality: “Pulauan” [=Palawan]).
, Leviton, 1964:532.
DESCRIPTION.— Black crossbars on venter not in contact with black on sides of body; pre-
frontals, and usually internasals, rostral and first two upper labials white (in alcohol-preserved
specimens); a distinct white line always present on side of body between first and second scale
rows, or first scale row completely white; dorsum of tail with two or three black crossbars, other-
wise red or cream; ventrals (♂) 232–260, (♀) 266–285; subcaudals (♂) 24–31, (♀) 23–25
FIGURE 31. Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.

SIZE.— Total length (♂) to 503 mm, (♀) 492 mm; tail length (♂) to 39 mm, (♀) to 28 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Balabac; Busuanga; Culion; Palawan).
Günther, 1864
Philippine [banded or striped] Coral Snake
Figures 10, 32A–B
var. Günther, 1864:349 (type locality: Philippine Islands).
, Leviton, 1964:533.
DESCRIPTION.— Black crossbars on venter in contact with black on sides; dorsolateral stripe
broad, tan or reddish brown; no distinct white line on sides of body along outer scale row; pre-
frontals colored as rest of head; cream crossbars on venter extend onto sides of body, often to fourth
scale row; ventrals 232–285 (♂ 236–250, ♀ 237–270); subcaudals 21–30 (♂ 25–30, ♀ 21–27);
29–45 black crossbars on venter; 1–4 black crossbars on underside of tail.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) to 625 mm , (♀) 545 mm; tail length (♂) to 47 mm, (♀) to 40 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Mindanao [Prov.: Agusan; Davao; Lanao; Misamis
Occidental; Zamboanga]; Samar).
A B
FIGURES 32A–B. from Western Mindanao Island. Photos by Rafe Brown.
Steindachner, 1891
Sulu Islands Banded Coral Snake
Steindachner, 1891:295 (Type locality: Sulu Archipelago).
, Leviton, 1964:535.
DESCRIPTION.— Black crossbars on venter contact black on sides of body; dorsolateral stripe
broad, tan or reddish brown; no distinct while line on sides along outer scale rows; prefrontals
cream colored (specimen in alcohol), or at least lighter than rest of head; cream-colored crossbars
on venter do not extend onto sides of body above first scale row; ventrals 197–218; subcaudals
24–33; 39 black crossbars on venter, 3 on underside of tail.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) to 405 mm, ♀ unknown; tail length (♂) 33 mm, ♀ unknown.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Jolo).
Genus Peters, 1862

Peters, 1862:638 (Type species: Wiegmann, 1834).
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxilla extends forward beyond palatine; venom fangs followed by a diastema
and then by one small, solid tooth; head not distinct from neck; loreal absent; nostril between
nasals; eye small, pupil round; body cylindrical, elongate; tail short; scales smooth, in 13 or 15 lon-
gitudinal rows at midbody; subcaudals paired; venom glands confined to head region; hypapophy-
ses present throughout vertebral column.
GENERAL FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE SPECIES.— Scales in 15 longitudinal rows throughout; 6
upper labials, rarely 7; anterior temporal in contact with 2 upper labials; preocular in contact with
nasal; color pattern consists of an alternating series of broad black and red rings that are separated
by narrow white annuli (in adults both dorsal and lateral portions of red rings become heavily
infused with black pigment).
REMARKS.— See Remarks under Calliophis (above).
(Weigmann, 1834)
[Annulated or Barred] Philippine Coral Snake
Figures 8B, 9, 33
Wiegmann, 1834:253, pl. 20, fig. 2 (Type locality: Manila, Luzon Island).
, Taylor, 1922a:269, pl. 33, figs. 1–2, pl. 34, figs. 1–2.— Castoe et al., 2007
, Leviton, 1964:543.
DESCRIPTION.— Black rings on body not
divided by narrow white annuli; narrow white
annuli on dorsum of body 44–75; temporal region
more or less heavily pigmented with melanin, with
a distinct light vertical postocular stripe and a diag-
onal nuchal chevron bordering the area; ventrals
223–259 (♂ 223–233, ♀ 252–259); subcaudals
16–22 (♂ 17–22, ♀ 13–30).
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 515 mm, (♀) 504 FIGURE 33. . Photo by
Cameron Siler.
mm; tail length (♂) 28 mm, (♀) 28 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: Albay, Bataan, Camarines Sur, Lagu-
na, Quezon, Rizal]; Mindoro).
Peters, 1872
[Double-barred] Philippine Coral Snake
Peters, 1872:587 (Type locality: “Philippine Ids.”)
(part) Taylor, 1922a:269.
, Leviton, 1964:545.
DESCRIPTION.— Black rings on body divided by narrow white annuli; white annuli on dorsum
60–83; temporal region either light (cream or reddish) or very lightly spotted with melanin; ven-
trals 196–227; subcaudals 15–21.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 551 mm, (♀) 478 mm; tail length (♂) 32 mm, (♀) 28 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Cebu; Negros; Panay).
Taylor, 1922
McClung’s Philippine Coral Snake
Taylor, 1922a:272, pl. 33, pl. 34, figs. 3–4 (Type locality: Polillo).
, Leviton, 1964:547.
DESCRIPTION.— Black rings on body not divided above by narrow white annuli; narrow white
annuli on body 46 (but white often obscured by melanin pigmentation); temporal region pigment-
ed; ventrals 206; subcaudals 23.
SIZE.— Total length 293 mm. (one ♂); tail length 23 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: Aurora]; Polillo).
Genus
Cobras
Laurenti, 1768:90 (Type species: Laurenti, 1768 = Linnaeus, 1758 [see
Williams and Wallach 1989:97; also David and Ineich 1999:156]).
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone extends forward beyond palatine; venom fangs moderately
short, followed by from 0 to 2 small teeth; eye moderate, pupil round; nostril large, between two
nasal scales; loreal scale absent; body scales smooth, in 19–25 longitudinal rows at midbody (for
Southeast Asian species only); hemipenes relatively short, forked for less than half their length,
variously spinose throughout.
Taylor, 1922
Philippine Cobra; Northern Philippine Cobra
Figures 4, 34, 35A–B
Taylor, 1922a:265 (Type locality: Manila, Luzon Island).— Leviton, 1964:539.
, Wüster and Thorpe, 1990:336-341.— Toriba, 1993:191.— David and Ineich, 1999:166.
DESCRIPTION.— Color above light brown to olive brown, below lighter cream to yellowish
brown, without any distinctive dark bands or other markings anteriorly; scales in 23–25 longitudi-
nal rows around neck, 21 longitudinal rows at midbody, and 15 just before the vent (scale row
reduction: 23[25]–21–15); ventrals 181–191; subcaudals 38–47; precloacal scale single.
SIZE.— Snout-vent length (♂) 1223 mm, (♀) 960 mm; tail length (♂) 189 mm, (♀) 195 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: Aurora, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite,
Laguna, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal]; Marinduque; Mindoro).
FIGURE 34. Taylor, 1922. Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.
Peters, 1861
Central Philippine Cobra
Figure 35C
Peters, 1861:690 (Type locality: Samar Island).
, Boulenger, 1896:385.— Taylor, 1922a:259.— Wüster and Thorpe, 1990:336-341.
, Leviton, 1964:542.
DESCRIPTION.— Color above dark brown to black, usually with a trace of a light lateral line,
at least anteriorly, on outer two scale rows; below, throat and first few ventrals yellowish followed
by a distinct broad black band, which gradually fades to light gray; scales in 21–23 longitudinal
rows around the neck, 19 longitudinal rows at midbody, and 13 longitudinal rows just before the
vent (scale row reduction: 23[21]–19–13); ventrals 162–178; subcaudals 42–50; precloacal scale
single.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Bohol; Leyte; Mindanao [Prov.: Agusan, Bukidnon,
Lanao, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga]; Samar).
F. Müller, 1887
Equatorial or Sumatran spitting Cobra
Müller, 1887:277 (Type locality: Solok, Prov. Sumatera Barat, Sumatra,
Indonesia.)
, Taylor, 1922a:262.— Leviton, 1964:538.
, Wüster and Thorpe, 1989:336-341.— Toriba, 1993:192.— David and Ineich, 1999:168.
DESCRIPTION.— Color above black or dark brown, below dark or light but without a distinc-
tive black band on anterior postion of bdy; scales in 23 longitudinal rows abound the neck, 17–19
longitudinal rows at midbody; and 13 rows longitudinal rows just before the vent (scale row reduc-
tion: 23–[17]19–13); ventrals 178–195; subcaudals 46–51; precloacal scale single.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Culion; Palawan). Elsewhere: Thailand (southern), Malaysia
(Peninsula, Borneo), Indonesia.
Genus Günther, 1864
Günther, 1864:340 (Type species: Günther, 1864 [= Can-
tor, 1836]).— Leviton, 1964:544.
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone extends forward beyond palatine; venom fangs short, followed
by three short teeth; head barely distinct from neck; nostril large, between two nasal scales; loreal
scale absent; scales smooth, in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody; subcaudal scales partially single,
partially divided; hemipenes very elongate, forked for most of their length; hypapophyses present
on posterior vertebrate.
(Cantor, 1836)
King Cobra
Figures 7A–B, 36, 37
, Günther, 1864:341.— Leviton, 1964:544.— Alcala, 1986a:161; 1986b:161.— Toriba,
1993:195.— David and Ineich, 1999:171.
, Taylor, 1922:256, pl. 31.— Smith, 1943:436.
DESCRIPTION.— Color variable, dorsum uniform olive to dark brown in adults, scales often
with black borders, juveniles dark brown to black with yellow rings; ventral surface, chin and
throat cream white, becomming darker posteriorly. Maxillary bone extends forward beyond pala-
tine; venom fangs short, followed by three small teeth; pterygoid teeth 10–12; head barely distinct
from neck; eye moderate, pupil round; nasal large, nostril between two nasals; loreal absent; scales
smooth, in 15 longitudinal rows throughout; caudodorsal scales reduce: 6 (2+3 [43–46]) 6; subcau-
dals 90–116.
SIZE.— Snout-vent length (♂) 1610 mm, (♀) 1590 mm; tail length (♂) 430 mm, (♀) 395 mm
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Balabac; Jolo; Luzon [Prov. Aurora, Benguet, Bulacan, Isabela,
Laguna]; Mindanao (southern); Mindoro; Negros [Prov.: Negros Oriental]; Palawan; Polillo). Else-
where: Pakistan through South and Southeast Asia, southern China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indone-
sia.
B C
FIGURE 35A–C. A. B. C. . Photos courtesy of Markus Oulehla.

FIGURE 36. (Cantor, 1836). Illustrations by Marilyn Kramer.
FIGURE 37. . Photo by Hla Tun.
Subfamily Hydrophiinae
REMARKS.— Sea snakes are, taxonomically, among the most poorly understood group of rep-
tiles. In recent years, at least dating from McDowell’s efforts in 1972 to redefine the major groups
of hydrophine sea snakes, to 2013, with Sanders et al. multilocus phylogeny of viviparous sea
snakes, rarely do two authors agree on the phylogenetic relations among the snakes let alone the
reality of species that exist. However, significant strides have been made mostly through the efforts
of Sanders et al. (2013), Rasmussen (e.g., 1989, 1997, 2010), Rasmussen et al. (2011), Heatwole,
et al. (2005), Lukoschek and Keogh (2006), Voris (1977), and Voris and Voris (1983), and with the
further application of molecular RNA/DNA studies, a clearer picture of sea snake diversity and
relationships should emerge in the forseeable future. In the meantime, we have chosen to follow
the recommendations of Sanders and co-authors to wit, “Division [of the sea snakes] into multiple
poorly defined genera would . . . fail to represent the history of recent rapid diversification of these
taxa . . . For these reasons, we recommend recognizing a single genus, Hydrophis Latreille 1802,
for the core Hydrophis group [which includes Acalyptophis, Astrotia, Kerilia, Lapemis, Pelamis,
Thalassophina]. The taxon Hydrophis is well known as comprising dangerously venomous sea
snakes; hence, retaining this name (instead of adding multiple new genera) will create less confu-
sion for conservationists, medical professionals, and fishing industries/communities as well as her-
petologists.” (Sanders et al. 2013:584.)
Most sea snakes are obligate aquatic animals that rarely, if ever come onto land except when
swept ashore by wind and waves. However, at least three species, often referred to a distinct sub-
family, the Laticaudinae, Laticauda colubrina, L. laticaudata, and L. semifasciata, regularly come
onto land to rest and lay eggs, but otherwise they feed in water. Also, “three of the most ‘primitive’
true sea snakes (Subfamily Hydrophiinae) (Ephalophis greyi, Hydrelaps darwiniensis, and Parahy-
drophis mertoni)” (Rasmussen 1992:57), none of which occur in Philippine waters, have been
observed emerging to forage on land for small burrowing gobies and then taking refuge in small
burrows until the next tide allows them to return to the water (Rasmussen 1992:57 and for refer-
ences).
Description data accompanying each of the sea snake species have been culled largedly from
details given in Smith (1926) and adjusted where necessary based on newer materials.
Genus Lacepède, 1804

Lacepède, 1804:197.— Smith, 1926:13.
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone extends forward beyond palatine, as long as or longer than
ectoptergyoid; 5–11 maxillary teeth behind front fangs; nostrils superior, nasal scales in contact
with one another; head scales variable, either whole or broken into smaller scales; body scales
imbricate, in 17–15 rows around body; ventrals large, 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 width of body, scales usually with
medial keel, best developed posteriorly. (Modified after Smith 1926:13.)
REMARKS.— See comments about Aipysurus in Rasmussen (2002:56).
(Gray, 1849)
Spine-tailed or Marbled Sea Snake
Gray, 1849:59.
, Smith, 1926:14.
DESCRIPTION.— Body nearly of uniform diameter throughout, cylindrical; 10–11 maxillary

teeth behind fangs; body scales, imbricate, smooth, in 17 rows on neck and body, 15 rows just
before vent; dorsal scales on head large, regular, frontal longer than its distance from tip of snout;
prefrontals usually two but occasionally divided by transverse groves to four; one pre- and two pos-
toculars; six upper labials, fourth bordering orbit of eye; six lower labials; ventrals (♂) 129–137,
(♀) 135–146, each with a more or less developed median keel that in adult males ends in a strong
spinous tubercle; subcaudals (♂) 30–32, (♀) 23–27; brownish or olive above with 44–55 yellow,
black-edged scales forming crossbands, usually broken along mid-dorsal line.
SIZE.— Total length usually to 550 mm (but Smith [1926:15] records one ♀ from Java at 910
mm).
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (although reported for the Philippines, no verifiable records or
voucher specimens [“I have seen no specimens. Both Boulenger {1896:304} and Wall {1910:189}
give the Philippines as part of its range, and the species is included in the present work on their
authority.” {Taylor, 1922a:227}]; Smith [1926:16] also questions the authenticity of Boulenger’s
report.). Elsewhere: widely distributed in coastal waters off of Australia (Queensland, Northern
Territory, Western Australia), New Guinea, Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia,
South China Sea.
Genus Krefft, 1869

Krefft, 1869:321.— Smith, 1926:26.
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone shorter than ectopterygoid and extends forward beyond pala-
tine; no maxillary teeth present following the very small venom fangs; nostrils superior; nasal
scales in contact with one another dorsally; scales in dorsum of head large; second upper labial
scale very elongate; scales on body imbricate, in 15–19 longitudinal rows at midbody.
Krefft, 1869
Annulated Sea Snake
Krefft, 1869:322.— Smith, 1926:26.— Alcala, 1986a:162.— David and Ineich,
1999:91.
DESCRIPTION.— Body of nearly uniform diameter throughout; head short, above covered with
large, regular scales; rostral five-sided, usually with a projecting spine; prefrontals not in contact
with upper labials; one preocular, two postocular scales; temporals small, 2 anterior, three posteri-
or; upper labials 3, second very elongate; 4 lower labials; body scales in 15 longitudinal rows on
neck, 15–17 around midbody, strongly imbricate; ventrals distinct, 125–145, with small tubercles
and usually with a median keel; subcaudals 20–40, undivided; precloacal (anal) scale single; body
color variable, uniform dark grey, brown to black above or yellowish white with 23–35 variegated
brown or black rings; head variable, creamy white, yellowish, or dark brown or black, with dark or
light markings.
SIZE.— Total length 910 mm; tail length 110 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines: according to Alcala (1986:163), “Probably all over Philippine
seas” but without exact references. Elsewhere: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (Irian),
Loyalty Islands.
Genus Latreille in Sonnini and Latreille, 1801

Latrielle, 1802:193.— Smith, 1926:40; 1943:451.— McCarthy, 1993:229.
Daudin, 1803:361. Lacepède, 1804:210.
Lacépède, 1804:210.
Gray in Hardwicke and Gray, 1835, vol. 2, pl. 87, fig. 2.— Smith, 1926:108.— McCarthy,
1993:243.— Rasmussen, 1996:22.— David and Ineich, 1999:121.
Gray, 1842:61.
Gray, 1849:47.
Gray, 1849:57.— Smith, 1926:31.— David and Ineich, 1999:120.
Schmidt, 1852:75.— Smith, 1926:103.— David and Ineich, 1999:197.
Fischer, 1856:38.— Smith. 1926:113.— David and Ineich, 1999:63.
Boulenger, 1896:269.— Smith, 1926:101.
Wall, 1921:390.— David and Ineich, 1999:176.
Smith, 1926:33.— Rasmussen, 1997:23.
Smith, 1926:106.— Rasmussen, 1996:23.— David and Ineich, 1999:120.
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone does not extend forward beyond palatine; 1–18 maxillary teeth
behind venom fangs and separated by a small interval (diastema); nostrils superior; nasal scales in
contact with one another or separated by elongate scales; dorsal head scales regular, large; body
scales imbricate to juxtaposed; ventrals small, usually distinct and undivided.
REMARKS.— David and Ineich (1999:104) reviewed the controversy surrounding the use of
the name Hydrophis to include several nominal taxa, Disteira, Leioselasma, and Aturia that had
been recognized by various authors. In so doing, they followed Rasmussen (1996), who also rec-
ommended recognizing Astrotia and Enhydrina as distinct genera. More recently, several phyloge-
netic studies have led to the abandoment of at least 10 heretofore recognized genera by placing
them and their included species in the genus Hydrophis (Sanders et al. 2013; Pyron et al. 2013).
Although we have adopted the newly proposed taxonomic arrangements here, we have also indi-
cated where those changes have occurred by including in brackets [ ] the genus name to which
the respective species had been previously assigned. It should be noted that the bracketed name
does not imply a subgenus designation..
In the descriptions that follow, body lengths, that is total lengths and tail lengths, are for the
largest specimens we have found recorded, mostly as recorded by Smith (1926) but adjusted if
more recent information were available.
[ ] (Laidlaw, 1901)
Annandale’s Sea Snake
Laidlaw, 1901:579, pl. 35.
, Smith, 1926:106.— David and Ineich, 1999:121.
DESCRIPTION.— Body short, stout, greatest body diameter not quite twice that of neck; head
large, with nasal and prefrontal scales usually divided; supraocular, frontal, and parietals entire, the
latter usually separated by small scales; 9–11 upper labials, often fragmented; temporals small,
irregular; lower labials, small or indistinct and separated from labial margin by small scales; scale
rows: around neck 62–82, around midbody 74–93, hexagonal, juxtaposed or subimbricate, smooth
or with short keel; ventrals distinct throughout, 320–368; precloacal scales enlarged. (After Smith
1926:106.)
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 910 mm; tail length (♂) 120 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (not yet reported from the Philippines but has been reported
from coastal waters of northern Borneo [Brunei] and Vietnam in the South China Sea as well as the
Gulf of Thailand). Elsewhere: Indonesia (Java), Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand (see David and
Ineich 1999:121 for references).
[ ] Schmidt, 1852
Anomalous Sea Snake
Schmidt, 1852:81.— Smith, 1926:104.— David and Ineich, 1999:197.— Stuebing
and Inger, 1999:221.
DESCRIPTION.— Head short; above, rostral fragmented into 4–5 small scales; nasals separated
by elongate scales; frontal small, sometimes divided; one pre- and two postoculars; temporals 2 or
3 anterior, three posterior scales, small, scarcely larger than adjacent scales; 6–7 upper labials, sec-
ond usually in contact with prefrontal, 3–5 bordering orbit of eye; 4 lower labials in contact with
sublabials; 27–30 scale rows around neck, 31–35 at midbody, posterior scales hexagonal in shape,
juxtaposed and keeled; ventrals scarcely broader than adjacent scales, 210–256, bicarinate; pre-
cloacal scales slightly enlarged.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 810 mm, (♀) 755; tail length (♂) 90 mm, (♀) 85 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (not yet reported from coastal Philippine waters but one record
for the northern coast of Borneo [Brunei] and elsewhere in the Gulf of Thailand). Elsewhere:
Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Moluccas), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
Günther, 1864
Southeast Asian Sea Snake
Figure 19B, 23A, 24A
Günther, 1864:371, fig.— McCarthy, 1993:230.— David and Ineich, 1999:104.— Ras-
mussen 2001:4001, 1 fig.
, Smith, 1926:97, fig. 27; 1943:465.
DIAGNOSIS.— Head small, body long and slender anteriorly; scales on thickest part of body
subquadrangular or hexagonal in shape, juxtaposed or slightly imbricate; 5–6 maxillary teeth
behind fangs; 2 anterior temporals; body scales in 25–30 (usually 27–29) rows around the neck,
39–49 (usually 43–53) around midbody (increase in number of rows from neck to midbody 12–20);
ventral scales 320–455 (average 366 or less); anterior part of body including head and neck dark
olive to black with pale oval yellowish spots on sides, sometimes connected as crossbars; posteri-
or, grayish; below whitish; dark rhomboidal spots may extend down the sides of the body and form
complete annuli in young.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Mindanao; Samar; Sulu Archipelago; Visayan Sea). Elsewhere:
coastal waters off the east coast of Malaysia, Gulf of Thailand,Vietnam, southern China, Indonesia
to western New Guinea, and northern Australia.
REMARKS.— This species is so similar in appearance to H. fasciatus that the two have been
regarded as conspecific, though treated as distinct subspecies (Smith 1926, 1943), but recent stud-
ies have treated tham as distinct species (see McCarthy 1993:230, 234; David and Ineich 1999:104,
109). Alcala (1986:164) referred to records from the Visayan Sea and areas around Samar, Min-
danao, and the Sulu islands to H. fasciatus but David and Ineich (1999:105) noted that “According
to A. R. Rasmussen (pers. commun., June 1996), all references of Hydrophis fasciatus based on
specimens taken East of Malacca Strait, from Gulf of Thailand to southern China and to the north
coast of Australia, belong to Hydrophis atriceps; we follow his interpretation.” We accept this inter-
pretation as well.
(Gray, 1849)
Belcher’s Sea Snake
Gray, 1849:46.
, McCarthy, 1993:230.— David and Ineich, 1999:105.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:5.
DESCRIPTION.— Head moderate, body elongate, compressed posteriorly, two to four times the
diameter of the neck; 7–8 [rarely 6 or 9] maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; normally one supral-
abial (4th, but occasionally two, 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 ) borders eye; one anterior temporal, occa-
sionally divided by a horizontal groove; 24–27 scales around neck, 32–37 around midbody; ven-
trals 278–313; body color yellow or grayish above, yellow-whitish below, 52–70 dark bands, head
black in young, lighter in adults, with yellowish or olive markings. (After Rasmussen et al. 2011:5.)
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (unknown although Alcala (1986a:166) states that it “has been
recorded from the central Philippine sea.”; otherwise, it has been reported from the coastal waters
off of Vietnam in the South China Sea [Rasmussen et al. 2011:5]). Elsewhere: Gulf of Thailand,
Vietnam, Indonesia, and New Guinea (David and Ineich [1999:105] noting earlier discussions by
McDowell [1972:217] and McCarthy and Warrell [1991:162–163], now refer the Australasian
records to Hydrophis pacificus, but see also Kharin [2005:161], whose observations heighten the
confusion regarding the identification of samples of populations supposedly belonging to
H. belcheri. See also comments by Rasmussen (2001) relating to H. coggeri.
Günther, 1872
Brook’s Sea Snake
Günther, 1872:597, fig. (Type locality: Sarawak [coast], Borneo, Malaysia).— Smith,
1926: 99.— David and Ineich, 1999:106.— Stuebing and Inger, 1999:207.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:5.
DESCRIPTION.— Head very small, body very slender anteriorly, compressed posteriory and
two to three times diameter of neck; 4–5 maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; scales at midbody
subimbricate, hexagonal in shape, often with a median tubercle or keel; 6, occasionally only 5,
upper labials, 3rd and 4th border eye; scales in 23–31 rows around neck, 37–45 around midbody;
ventrals 328–414, distinct throughout; color (live) bluish white (greyish in preserved specimens),
with 60–80 dark grey (black) bands, anteriorly they encircle body and are about twice as broad as
the interspaces, posteriorly they narrow on the sides and may be incomplete below; head black or
dark grey with curved yellow horseshoe-shaped marking across snout and extending back along
sides of head. (Modified from Smith 1926:100–101 and Rasmussen et al. 2011:5.)
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (unknown, but it has been reported from South China Sea, along
the coast of Sarawak, Borneo [Smith 1926:101; Stuebing and Inger 1999:207] and Vietnam [David
and Ineich 1999:106; Rasmussen 2011:5]). Elsewhere: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
Vietnam, Sarawak coast of Borneo.
(Kharin, 1984)
Cogger’s Sea Snake; Pacific Yellow-banded Seasnake
Kharin 1984a:1538, fig. b.— David and Ineich 1999:107.— Rasmussen 2001:4002, figs.
DESCRIPTION.— Head and body variable, “small head and slender neck, others with more
robust body” (Rasmussen, op. cit.); 5–8 maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; scales in 22–39 rows
around neck, 29–35 around midbody; ventrals, 278–325; head uniformly dark brown to black, body
olive with encircling dark bands on body and tail.
SIZE.— Total length 1150 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (said to occur in the Philippines [Rasmussen 2001:4002 and dis-
tribution map; also Zug 2013:229] but most likely H. melanocephalus [see Rasmussen et al.
2011:6]). Elsewhere: north coast of Australia, New Caledonia, east to Vanuatu and Fiji.
[ ] Shaw, 1802
Short or Hardwicke’s Sea Snake
Figures 27D, 28–29, 37–38
Shaw, 1802:562.— Zhao and Adler, 1993:269.— Gritis and Voris, 1990: 1–11.— Whitaker
and Captain, 2004:398, photo (p. 399). McCarthy, 1993:244.— David and Ineich, 1999:121.
Gray in Hardwicke and Gray, 1835, vol. 2, pl. 87.— Smith, 1926:108, fig. 32, pl. 1, fig.
3; 1943:468, figs. 148–149.
, McCarthy, 1993:244.
DESCRIPTION.— Body short, stout, diameter of neck region at least half that of the midbody;
head large, scales on dorsum of head regular (Fig. 37), entire, parietals occasionally divided, nos-
trils superior, nasals in contact with one another; prefrontal usually in contact with second upper
labial, 7–8 upper labials, 3–4 bordering eye, 1 pre- and 1–2 postoculars, 2, rarely 3, anterior tem-
porals; body scales squarish or hexagonal, juxtaposed, outer 3–4 rows larger than others, scale
rows: around neck (♂) 23–31, (♀) 27–35, around midbody, (♂) 25–27, (♀) 33– 41; ventrals small,
usually distinct anteriorly, not so posteriorly, (♂) 114–186, (♀) 141–230; greenish or yellow-olive
above, whitish below, 35–50 olive to dark gray dorsal bars, tapering to a point laterally, occasion-
FIGURE 37. [ ] Shaw, 1802. Photo

courtesy of Harold Voris.
ally encircling body, a narrow dark ventral stripe or

FIGURE 38. [ ] Shaw,
broad irregular band occasionally present; adults often 1802. Drawing by Emily M. Eng.
lack any pattern and are uniform olive to dark gray;
head pale olive to black, yellow markings on snout present or not.
SIZE.— Total length 850 mm (1100 mm, fide Rasmussen et al. 2011); tail length 85 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (reported from the Visayan Sea [fide Alcala 1986:170]). Else-
where: southeast coast of India to Straits of Malacca, Indonesia, and Australia, and north to China,
Taiwan, and Japan.
REMARKS.— Gritis and Voris (1990) do not recognize Lapemis hardwickii [now Hydrophis
hardwicki] as a distinct species, placing it in the synonymy of L. curtus. McCarthy (1993) recog-
nized it as a subspecies of L. curtus, allowing that the nominate form inhabits coastal waters from
the Persian Gulf to the shores of western India, and L. curtus hardwickii ranges from the coastal
waters of Sri Lanka and eastern India to New Guinea and Australia and north to the coast of China,
the Philippines, and Japan (see also David and Ineich 1999:121–122). Smith (1926:113, 1943:471)
argued that L. curtus ranges from the Persian Gulf to the west coast of India as far as Sri Lanka but
that it is unknown along the east coast of India. We follow Gritis and Voris in this handbook inas-
much as theirs is the most comprehensive analysis of character variation done so far, and based on
their study there are no mophological features that justify recognizing two species although we
emphasize that recent phylogenetic studies (Sanders et al. 2013) place the genus Lapemis and its
included species in the genus Hydrophis.
Daudin, 1803
Annulated Sea Snake; Many-banded Sea Snake
Figures 19B, 20B, 23B, 25B, 26A–B, 39
Daudin, 1803:383.— Smith, 1926:56; 1943:454.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:392,
photo (p. 303).
DESCRIPTION.— Head moderate, body elongate, not slender anteriorly; scales on thickest part
of body overlapping (imbricate) throughout, with medial keel or broken into two or three tubercles;
5–8 maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; ordinarily two anterior temporals; scales in 27–35 rows
on the neck, 37–47 around midbody (increase from neck to midbody 8–14); ventrals 290–390, dis-
tinct throughout, about twice as broad as adjacent scales; head in adult olive or yellowish, in young,
head black or dark olive; young with black annuli that broaden dorsally and occasionally a black
ventral stripe; in adults, ventral stripe and

lower portions of annuli less distinct but
dorsal portion of annuli remain distinct.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 1500 mm,
(♀) 1885 mm; tail length (♂) 130 mm,
(♀) 135 mm.
D I S T RI B UT I O N . — P h i l i p pi n e s
(Luzon; Visayan region) (fide Alcala
1986a:164). Elsewhere: Extensive range
from Persian/Arabian Gulf east to
Indonesia and north to the Idzu Sea,
Japan (see David and Ineich [1999:108]
for details).
(Shaw, 1802)
Common Small-headed Sea Snake
Figure 19C
“Kadell nagam” Russel, 1801:pl. 15, pl. 13. FIGURE 39. Daudin, 1803 (inset: close-
Shaw, 1802:560 (Type local- up view of head). Photos courtesy of Harold Voris
ity: unknown).
, Smith, 1926:121. — David and Ineich, 1999:110.— Rasmussen et al. 2011:6.
DESCRIPTION.— Head very small, elongate, snout projecting beyond lower jaw; body long and
slender anteriorly, compressed posteriorly and four to five times the diameter of neck; 5–6 maxil-
lary teeth behind front poison fangs; rostral scale large, extending well onto upper surface of snout;
scale rows on neck 17–23, on body 30–43, posterior scales hexagonal, juxtaposed, broader than
long, with two or three tubercles, one behind the other; ventrals 215–350, entire and broader than
adjacent body scales on anterior slender portion of body, completely divided posteriorly by a medi-
an groove, the two halves apposed or alternating to one another; precloacal scales slightly enlarged;
color in young black anteriorly with whitish dorsal bands or oval spots laterally, 40–60 more or less
complete bands posteriorly, in adults markings lose definition and body becomes more uniformly
greyish above, and paler below.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 950 mm, (♀) 1025mm; tail length (♂) 80 mm, (♀) 95 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (this species has not been recorded from the Philippines but it
has been found in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam and southern China). Elsewhere:
widely distributed from Persian/Arabian Gulf (coastal Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and Oman)
east to the Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, Malaya and Singapore, South China Sea, and Indone-
sia, to New Guinea (Gulf of Guinea).
REMARKS.— Smith (1943:473) provides information on the geographic variation in scale
counts for this species.
(Gray, 1849)
REMARKS.— According to David and Ineich (1999:111), Rasmussen (1989) referred records
of Philippine and Indonesian H. inornatus to H. ornatus (see Rasmussen synonymy, 1989:399, also
comments on p. 410). Rasmussen also states, “However, the acceptance of H. inornatus as a sepa-
rate species is explicitly preliminary and further study may show that the type specimen of
H. inornatus is an abberant specimen of H. ornatus.” (Rasmussen 1989:415.)
[ ] Gray, 1849
Jerdon’s Sea Snake
Gray, 1849:57.— Smith, 1926:31.— David and Ineich, 1999:120.— Stuebing and Inger,
1999:214.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:8.
DESCRIPTION.— Head short, narrowed anteriorly; body robost, elongate; 7–9 maxillary teeth
behind fangs; scales on body longer than broad, imbricate throughout, strongly keeled, in 15–17
rows around neck, 19–23 at mid-body; ventrals 200–273, distinct throughout but only slightly
broader than adjacent scales; body yellow above, yellowish or whitish below, with black bands that
are wider above and usually fade laterally.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (not yet reported from the Philippines but has been reported
from coastal waters of northern Borneo and coastal waters elsewhere in the South China north to
Taiwan). Elsewhere: widely distributed from coastal waters of southeast Indian Peninsula, Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Mergui Archipelago, Malacca Straits, Singapore, and west and north-
west coast of Borneo.
REMARKS.— Two subspecies of Kerilia jerdoni have been recognized, but not all authors
agree on their status. Kerilia j. jerdoni is the form that would be encountered along in the Bay of
Bengal along the coasts of southeast India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, whereas K. j. siamensis
ranges from the east coast of Peninsular Thailand to the Borneo coast (Rasmussen and Anderson
1990).
Although not yet recorded from the Philippines, its occurrence in shallow coastal waters off
the coast of northern Borneo suggests it will likely be found in coastal waters off of the Palawan
Island group and perhaps in the Sulu Sea.
Boulenger, 1912
Kloss’s Sea Snake
Boulenger, 1912:190.— Smith, 1926:68.— Stuebing and Inger, 1999:210.— David and Ine-
ich, 1999:112.
DESCRIPTION.— Head small, body anteriorly slender, posteriorly two to three times diameter
of neck, compressed; 5–6 maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; scale rows on neck 23–25 (27), at
midbody 31–37 (39); ventrals distinct throughout, 360–413, less than twice as broad as adjacent
body scalers; precloacal scales enlarged; Head dark olive to dark brown, sometimes with elongate
whitish spots or indistinct horseshoe shaped marking; body above grey with 50–75 dark bands that
encircle body, broadest above and broader than interspaces; below, underside of head dark and
anterior portion of body dark, posteriorly sides of body and belly yellowish-white, posteriorly,
greyish; tip of tail black. (After Smith 1926:68 and Stuebing and Inger 1999:210.)
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (not yet reported from Philippine waters; Stuebing and Inger
[1999:210] report one specimen off the coast of northern Borneo). Elsewhere: east coast of Malay
Peninsula, Thailand, Singapore, western Indonesia (Sumatra).
Smith, 1917
Lambert’s Sea Snake
Smith, 1917:340.
, (part) Smith, 1926:81.— Dunson and Minton, 1978:281.— Minton, 1978:151.
, Rasmussen, 1989:410.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:6.
DESCRIPTION.— Head large, robust; 9–12 maxillary teeth behind front fangs; scale rows on
neck (♂) 38–42, (♀) 37–45, on body (♂) 45–52, (♀) 49–56; ventrals distinct throughout, anterior-
ly about twice as broad as adjacent scales, (♂) 258–395, (♀) 237–306; subcaudals, (♂) 37–50, (♀)
34–44; color, head greyish or brown above, whitish below; body with large oval-shaped bands
anteriorly, replaced by cross-bands with broad interspaces posteriorly, dark bands both widest and
darkest dorsally, lighter and narrower laterally; on tail,greyish black bands and broad whitish inter-
spaces, 4–6 in (♂), 5–6 in (♀). (After Rasmussen 1989:411.)
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 410–1220 mm, (♀) 440–1040 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Iloilo Prov. [Gigante Ids.]; Luzon [Manila Bay]). Elsewhere:
Singapore, Gulf of Thailand, Vietnam.
Gray, 1849
Black-headed Sea Snake
var. Gray, 1849:53.
, Smith, 1926:64.— McCarthy, 1993:237.— David and Ineich, 1999:114.
DESCRIPTION.— Head small, body elongate and slender anteriorly, compressed posteriorly, the
diameter two to three times greater than the neck; 6–8 maxillary teeth behind venom fangs; 23–27
scale rows around neck, 33–41 around midbody (rows increase from 8–14, neck to midbody); ven-
trals 289–358, distinct throughout, bicarinate, almost twice as broad as adjacent body scales; pre-
cloacal scales enlarged; color, head black with yellow spot behind nostrils and a yellow streak
behind eye, body olivaceous or greyish, yellowish or white below, with 40–55 black bands about
as broad as the interspaces, usually expanding both dorsally and ventrally.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (fide Rasmussen 2011; David and Ineich 1999) but without
locality details. Elsewhere: Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Ids.).
(Gray, 1842)
Ornate Sea Snake; Reef Sea Snake
Figures 24B, 40–41
Gray, 1842b:61.
, Smith, 1926:6.— David and Ineich, 1999:116.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:394, photo
(p. 395).
, Smith, 1943:460.— McCarthy, 1993: 239.
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on thickest part of body more or less hexagonal in shape, feebly imbri-
cate or juxtaposed; 9–13 maxillary teeth behind fangs; head large; body robust, not elongate, great-
est diameter posteriorly about twice that of the neck; one preocular; two postoculars; two anterior
temporals; 7–8 upper labials; scale rows on neck: (♂) 28–40, (♀) 31–45, on thickest part of body,
(♂) 33–52, (♀) 39–55 (increase from neck to midbody 4–12); ventrals distinct throughout, in (♂)
209–273, in (♀) 236–312, anteriorly ventrals about twice as large as adjacent scales, narrowing
posteriorly; above grayish or light olive to almost white with broad dark bars or rhomboidal spots
separated by narrow interspaces; below yellowish or whitish.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Luzon; South Gigante Id.). Elsewhere: Persian [Arabian] Gulf
to New Guinea and Australia and north along the coast of China to the Ryukyu Ids. (See also com-
ments by Zug 2013:230 relating to reports of occurrence in the Gilbert Islands.)
REMARKS.— See comments under H. inornatus.
FIGURE 40. (Gray, 1842). Photo courtesy of

Aaron Lobo
FIGURE 41. (Gray,
1842). Illustrations by Emily M. Eng
[ ] (A.H.A. Duméril, 1853)

Spiny-headed Sea Snake or Horned Sea Snake
Figures 20C, 42
A.H.A. Duméril, 1853:522.
, Boulenger, 1896:269.— Smith, 1926:102.— McCarthy, 1993:221.— David and Ineich,
1999:55.
DESCRIPTION.— Head short, small, diameter of neck one-

third to two-thirds that of the greatest diameter of body; rostril dis-
tinctly broader than deep; supraocular with raised, pointed poste-
rior border; 19–23 scale rows on neck, 23–29 around body, with
short keels, stronger and spinose in males; ventrals 142–206, as
broad as or slightly narrower than adjacent body scales; greyish or
pale brown above, whitish below, with or without dark dorsal bars
tapering to points on sides; narrow ventral bands or spots may be
present.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (unknown, but it has been
reported from coastal Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China
Sea). Elsewhere: Gulf of Siam, including coastal Thailand, Viet- FIGURE 42. [
] (A.H.A. Duméril,
nam, Malaysia, Indonesia, South China Sea north to Taiwan, and 1853). Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.
east to New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Australia.
[ ] (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pelagic Sea Snake; Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Figures 27A, 27C, 30, 43–44
Linnaeus, 1766:391.
, Smith, 1926:116, fig. 33; 1943:476.— McCarthy, 1993:245.— David and Ineich,
1999:174.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:402, photo (p. 403).
, Rasumssen et al., 2011:9.
DESCRIPTION.— Body compressed, posteriorly more than twice the diameter of the neck; body
scales juxtaposed, subquadrangular in shape, in 49–67 rows around thickest part of body; ventral
scales, 264–406, very small and, if distinct, divided by a longitudinal groove, but usually indistin-
FIGURE 43. [ ] (Linnaeus, 1758). FIGURE 44. [ ] (Lin-

Photo courtesy of John Tashjian. naeus, 1758). Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.
guishable from adjacent body scales; head narrow, snout elongate, head scales entire, nostrils supe-
rior, nasal scales in contact with one another; prefrontal in contact with 2 upper labial; 1–2 pre-
and 2–3 postoculars; 2–3 small anterior temporals; 7–8 upper labials, 4–5 below eye but separated
from border by subocular; color variable but most often distinctly bicolored, black above, yellow
or brown below, the dorsal and ventral colors sharply demarked from one another; ventrally there
may be a series of black spots or bars on the yellow or brown background, or the yellow may
extend dorsally so that there is only a narrow middorsal black stripe, or a series of black crossbars
(see Smith 1943:476–477 for a more complete description of the color pattern variants).
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (widely distributed). Elsewhere: most widely distributed of all
sea snakes, from east coast of Africa throughout southern and eastern coastal Asia, as far north as
southern Siberia, throughout Indonesia to Australia and Tasmania, also from Gulf of Panama north
to Baja California in western North America and Hawaiian Islands.
[ ] (Daudin, 1803)
Beaked Sea Snake; Hooked-nosed Sea Snake
Figures 20A, 21B, 22, 45
Daudin, 1803:386.
, Smith, 1926:36, fig. 17; 1943:449, fig. 144.— McCarthy, 1993:227.— David and Ine-
ich, 1999:92.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:390, photo (p. 391).
, McDowell, 1972:239–244.
DESCRIPTION.— Mental scale small, partly concealed within mental groove; 3–4 maxillary
teeth behind fangs; 5–6 palatine teeth, palatine teeth larger than pterygoid teeth; no suborbital
stripe; young light brown to dark gray above, whitish below, with dark gray or black annuli; pat-
tern disappears in adults which are uniform gray in color; scales around body variable, in Bay of
Bengal, scales around neck, (♂) 40–52, (♀) 42–55, scales around midbody, (♂) 49–60, (♀) 51–65,
scales imbricate or subimbricate, with short central keel; ventrals 239–322, small, usually distinct
throughout, occasionally missing on anterior part of body; precloacal scales slightly enlarged; color
of young grey or bluish grey above, whitish below, with dark grey or black rings, broadest dorsal-
ly, that disappear in adults, which are usually uniformly greyish in color.
SIZE.— Total length 1400 mm; tail

length 180 mm (but rarely exceeding
1100 mm total length).
D I S T RI B UT I O N . — P h i l i p pi n e s
(although there are no specific records,
its wide range and occurrence in the
South China Sea in muddy bottoms of
coastal waters and at the mouths of
streams, makes its occurrence in the
coastal waters of southwestern Philip-
pines likely). Elsewhere: Persian/ Arabi-
an Gulf (Iraq, Iran), Oman, Pakistan,
India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, east to New FIGURE 45. [ ] (Daudin, 1803)
Guinea and Australia (David and Ineich (inset: closeup view of head). Photos courtesy of Harold Voris.
1999:92).
REMARKS.— Stuebing and Inger note that “The Beaked Sea Snake is a dangerous species,
with potent venom and a reputation in Peninsula Malaysia for biting fishermen. Because of its pref-
erence for muddy bottoms, it is sometimes trod upon in shallow tidal flats by people who wade
barefoot while netting prawns.” (Stuebing and Inger 1999:207.)
Garman, 1881
Lake Taal Sea snake
Figure 46
Garman, 1881:85.— Smith, 1926:63.— McCarthy,
1993:240.— David and Ineich, 1999:118.
DESCRIPTION.— Head moderate, body not compressed ante-

riorly, greatest diameter about twice that of the neck; 6–8 maxil-
lary teeth behind fangs; scales on body imbricate and with short
keel, 29–21 around neck, 37–43 around body (increase of
10–12); ventrals 314–356, distinct throughout, bicarinate, about
twice as broad as adjacent scales; precloacal scales enlarged;
head black, body black with 50 to 60 narrow whitish bands of
annuli, ventral scales usually black.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 550 mm, (♀) 725; tail length (♂) FIGURE 46.
55 mm, (♀) 650 mm. Garman, 1881. Illustrations by Emily
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: M. Eng.
Batangas{Lake Taal}]).
(Shaw, 1802)
Yellow Sea Snake
Figures 25A, 26C–D
Shaw, 1802:564, pl. 125.
, Smith, 1926:48.
DESCRIPTION.— Head moderate, body elongate, body diameter posteriorly about twice that of
neck; 6–7 maxillary teeth behind fangs; 25–31 scale rows around nexk, 33–38 at midbody, scales
feebly imbricate, smooth or with small tubercle or keel; ventrals 295–362, distinct throughout,
about twice as broad as adjacent body scales; precloacal scales enlarged.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 1620 mm, (♀) 1830; tail length (♂) 140 mm, (♀) 120 mm. (after
Smith 1926:49).
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (a single record, juvenile, from Mergui [Smith 1926:50]) that
has been repeatedly cited without further evidence of presence in Philippine coastal waters). Else-
where: widely distributed from the Persian/Arabian Gulf east to Malaysia and Indonesia (see David
and Ineich 1999:118).
[ ] (Gray, 1846)
Malayan [or Stokes’] Sea Snake
Figures 27B, 47
(part) Gray in Stokes, 1846:502.
, Wall, 1909:250.
, Smith, 1926:113.— Dunson and Minton, 1978:282.— David and Ineich, 1999:63.
DESCRIPTION.— Exceptionally thick-bodied sea snake with

large head, covered by regular head scales, and thick neck, about
one-half diameter of greatest diameter of body; 6 or 7 maxillary
teeth behind fangs; body scales in 37–47 rows on neck, 47–59
around body, scales strongly imbricate, pointed, keeled or keels
broken into tubercles; ventrals 226–286, anterior-most occasion-
all entire, all others divided, the two halves overlapping; color
pattern, head dark olivaceous to yellowish, body yellowish to
pale brown with broad black or dark brown bands or bars. (After
Smith 1926:114.)
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 1200 mm, (♀) 1600 mm; tail
length (♂) 170 mm, (♀) 190 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines: South Gigante Id. (Dunson
and Minton 1978:282). Elsewhere: widely distributed from India
to Australia and north into the South China Sea. (See David and FIGURE 47.
Ineich [1999:63] for details.) (Gray, 1846). Illustrations by Emily
M. Eng.
[ ] (Schmidt, 1852)
Grey Sea Snake
Schmidt, 1852:79, pl. 3.
, Smith, 1926:33.— Rasmussen, 1997:23.
, David and Ineich, 1999:177.— Stuebing and Inger, 1999:220.
DESCRIPTION.— Head short, depressed, distinct from neck; nasal scales as broad as long; pre-
frontals much broader than long, not in contact with upper labials; frontal twice as large as supraoc-
ular; 1 (-2) preocular, 1–2 postoculars; 7–9 upper labials, usually 3–5 bordering orbit of eye, occa-
sionally only two border orbit; temporals variable, usually only 1, occasionally 2 or 3; 27–34 scale
rows around neck; 37–50 abound midbody; ventrals 226–274, anteriorly half the width of body,
posteriorly narrowed, about twice width of adjacent scales; precloacal scale enlarged.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (not yet reported from coastal Philippine waters but present in
the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand). Elsewhere: widely distributed from Persian/Arabian
Gulf to eastern Asia, including off the coasts of northern Borneo (Sarawak), Thailand, Vietnam,
China, as far north as Taiwan (see David and Ineich 1999:177, also Stuebing and Inger 1999:220),
as well as eastward to northern Australia and into the western Pacific (Zug 2013:231).
Subfamily Laticaudinae
REMARKS.— The genus Laticauda has in recent years been assigned variously to the subfam-
ily Elapinae, which includes cobras, kraits, and coralsnakes, and to the subfamily Hydrophiinae,
the sea-snakesand Australian terrestrial elapids. Recent work by Castoe, Smith, Brown, and Parkin-
son (2007) provides evidence for including the genus among the subfamily of sea snakes. Howev-
er, others prefer to place the genus in a separate subfamily, the Laticaudinae, within the Family
Elapidae (e.g., McCarthy 1986; David and Ineich 1999).
Genus Laurenti, 1768

Sea Kraits
Laurenti, 1768:109.— David and Ineich, 1999:122.
Kharin, 1984b:134.
DIAGNOSIS.— Maxillary bone shorter than ectopterygoid, extends forward beyond palatine;
venom fangs followed by 1–3 maxillary teeth; head scales normal, large; nostrils lateral, nasals sep-
arated by internasals; body scales imbricate, smooth; ventrals large, at least half the width of body.
(Schneider, 1799)
Yellow-lipped Sea Krait
Figures 16A, 17B, 18B, 48
Schneider, 1799:238.
, Taylor, 1922a:231, pl. 29.— Smith, 1926:6; 1943:443.— McCarthy, 1993:146.— David
and Ineich, 1999:123.— Whitaker and Captain, 2004:386, photo (p. 387).— Rasmussen et al., 2011:9.
DESCRIPTION.— Ventrals large, one-
third to more than ½ width of body; nos-
trils lateral; nasals separated by inter-
nasals; an azygous prefrontal scale usual-
ly present; rostral undivided; body scales
imbricate, in 21–23 longitudinal rows
aboud neck, 21–25 longitudinal rows at
midbody; color above light or dark bluish-
grey above, yellowish below, with 24–64
black bands of more or less uniform width
above and somewhat narrower than the
lighter interspaces, and sometimes nar-
rowing across the belly, head black except
FIGURE 48. (Schneider, 1799) (Insert
for a well-defined yellow horseshoe- showing color markings on side of head). Photos by Cameron Siler
shaped marking that originates on the (from Mastre de Campo Island).
snout and extends backwards beyond the
eyes to the temporal region and yellow upper lips; ventrals 213–245. subcaudals paired, (♂) 37–47,
(♀) 29–37.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Bantayan; Jolo; Luzon [Manila Bay]). Elsewhere: Smith
(1943:444) states that this species is not commonly met in “Indian and Indo-Chinese waters”
though it is not uncommon at Singapore. Minton (1975: 26, Table 1) suggests that although rare in
the Bay of Bengal, it may not be uncommon along the Myanmar coast and the west coast of the
Malayasian Peninsula. Also coastal waters of Thailand, Malaysia, western Indonesia as far east as
Polynesia and north along the east Asian coast to southern Japan.
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Brown-lipped Sea Krait; Black-banded Sea Krait
Figures 17A, 18A, 49
Linnaeus, 1758:222 (part).
, Taylor, 1922a:4.— Smith, 1926:4; 1943:442.— Toriba, 1993: 146.— David and Ine-
ich, 1999:124.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:9.
DESCRIPTION.— Ventrals large, one-third to more
than ½ width of body; nostrils lateral; nasals separated
by internasals; 19 longitudinal rows of imbricate
scales around neck and at midbody, 17 rows posterior-
ly; no azygous prefrontal scale; rostral undivided;
body color light or dark bluish-grey above, yellowish
below, with black bands of more or less uniform width
throughout, each separated from the next band by 2–4
scale-row wide interspaces, head black with pale yel-
lowish horseshoe-shaped yellow marking on snout
extending along the upper sides of head to or beyond
the eyes, upper lips dark brown; ventrals 225–243,
subcaudals (♂) 38–47, (♀) 30–35.
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 910 mm, (♀) 1070 mm;
tail length (♂) 110 mm, (♀) 110 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Bantayan; Jolo;
Luzon; Mindanao; Mindoro [northern]; Samar; Sulu
Id.). Elsewhere: Smith (1943:443) states that it is “rare
FIGURE 49. (Linnaeus,
in the Oriental region (Calcutta and Little Nicobar
1758). Photo courtesy of John Tashjian.
Harbour).” On the other hand, Minton (1975:26, table
1) suggests that although rare in the Bay of Bengal, it may not be uncommon along the west coast
of the Malayasian Peninsula. Also western Indonesia (Sumatra and Java) to Australia, Melanesia
and Polynesia, and north along the east coast of Asia to southern Japan.
(Reinwardt Schlegel, 1837)

Half-banded Sea Krait
Reinwardt in Schlegel, 1837:516.
, Taylor, 1922a:234, pl. 3, fig. 2, pl. 30.— Smith, 1926:10.— David and Ineich,
1999:125.— Rasmussen et al., 2011:9.
, Kharin, 1984b:135.
DESCRIPTION.— Ventrals large, one-third to more than ½ width of body; nostrils lateral; nasals
separated by internasals; an azygous prefrontal usually present; rostral divided by a horizontal
groove; body scales imbricate, in 21–23 rows longitudinal rows at midbody; color above greenish,
or bluish-grey, below yellowish, with 30–42 black bands that are broader than the lighter inter-
spaces encircling body; head dark brown or black with a yellow curved mark above that connects
posteriorly with the yellow band at the back of the head; in older individuals, markings become less
distinct; upper lip brown; ventrals 195–205; subcaudals (♂) 38–43, (♀) 32–36.
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Luzon [Prov.: Zambales, coast of]; Negros [Prov.: Negros Ori-
ental]; Sulu Id.). Elsewhere: China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia (fide David and Ineich 1999:125; Ras-
mussen et al. 2011:9).
Family Viperidae
Subfamily Crotalinae
Genus Lacépède, 1804
Pitvipers
Lacépède, 1804:209.
Gray, 1849:11.— Malhotra and Thorpe, 2004:94–95.— David et al., 2011:43 (as a subgenus of
).
DIAGNOSIS.— Hemipenes deeply forked, spinose and papillose; first upper labial not fused to
nasal scale; second upper labial fused to scale forming anterior border of facial pit; scales on head
and throat smooth.
REMARKS.— Malhotra and Thorpe (2004) present substantive molecular genetic data to justi-
fy a revised taxonomy for the nominal genus Trimeresurus at the generic level. However, more
recently, David et al. (2011:41) argue in favor of recognizing the lineages of Trimeresurus (sensu
lato) as subgenera of Trimeresurus rather than genera as proposed by Malhotra and Thorpe (2004).
At this stage of inquiry with respect to the phylogenetic relationships among the included species,
we are inclined to agree with David et al. and for the reasons they state, “if one considers
Trimeresurus as a single genus, information on the phylogenetic relationships among the various
‘clades’ within the genus Trimeresurus is obscured, but the monophyly of the main ‘clade’
Trimeresurus is emphasized with regard to other Asian (Ovophis, Tropidolaemus) and American
pitviper genera. . . . It should also be emphasized that, on an external morphological basis, these
subgenera are hardly diagnosable, and we think that recognizing ‘genera’ that cannot be diagnosed
morphologically is not a help to practising taxonomists, especially when they do not have access
to molecular facilities.” (David et al. 2011:41.) Although we do not believe that the closing phrase
is necessarily a justification for recognizing or not recognizing a taxon or clade, nonetheless, the
current state of flux leads us to take a more conservative approach in handling the problem, in part
so that those outside of the herpetological community, notably those in the medical profession who
must deal with clinical concerns about snakebite, can more readily access information about the
animals concerned.
( ) (Gray, 1842)
Yellow-spotted or Philippine Pitviper
Figures 11A, 15A–B, 50A–G
Gray, 1842:49.
, Gray, 1849:11.
, Günther, 1879:79; Taylor, 1922a:288.— Leviton, 1964:257.— Gumprecht et
al., 2004: 32, 25 col. photos (pp. 181–186).
, Leviton, 1964:257.— Toriba, 1993:98.— David and Ineich,
1999: 284.
Griffin 1910:214 (Type locality: Polillo Islands).— Taylor, 1922a:286.
, Leviton, 1964:262.— Toriba, 1993:98.— David and Ineich, 1999:284.
Fischer, 1885:116 (Type locality: “Süd-Mindanao”).
FIGURES 50A–F. Chromatic and pattern polymorphism among and within populations of ( )
(A–B) Aurora, Luzon; (C) Zambales, Luzon; (D–F) Polillo; (G) Bicol. Photos A–F by Cameron D. Siler, G by
Rafe Brown.
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head and chin smooth or irregularly keeled; second upper labial
fused to scale forming forming anterior border of facial pit; body scales in 21 longitudinal rows
around midbody, 29 rows around neck; a distinct light stripe, or at least a series of light spots, pres-
ent along outer scale row; dorsal color highly variable, with dark pigments present, usally blue
green, green, or dark blue gray, sometimes as scattered, irregular spots or blothches, also as distinct
crossbars; tail not distinctly differentiated from body by color; hemipenes without spines; ventrals
(♂) 170–178, (♀) 177–182, subcaudals (♂) 62–71, (♀) 58–63.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Camiguin; Jolo; Leyte; Luzon [Prov.: Aurora,
Bataan, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Quezon];
Mindanao [Prov.: Davao, Lanao]; Mindoro).
REMARKS.— Gumprecht et al. (2004:32) chose not to recognize T. flavomaculatus halieus as
a subspecies and elevated T. f. mcgregori to the rank of full species, as do David et al. (2011:43).
With respect to T. f. halieus, we are inclined to agree with their handling of that taxon. Indeed,
recent field observations by several of the authors indicate that there is a wide range of color and
pattern polymorphism both within and among populations throughout the range of the species. We
also agree with the elevation of T. mcgregori to the rank of full species. Furthermore, recent exam-
ination of material from Mindanao suggests that the population inhabiting that island is quite dis-
tinct from Luzon T. flavomaculatus and should possibly be accorded recognition as a full species
for which the name T. schadenbergi Fischer, 1885, is available. According to Gernot Vogel and
Patrick David (2007:37), this matter is under investigation and the results are scheduled to appear
in due course; thus we refrain from making any changes at this time.
( ) (Taylor, 1919)
McGregor’s Pitviper
Figures 14, 51
Taylor, 1919:110.— Taylor,
1922a:284.— Gumprecht et al., 2004: 35, 18 col.
photos (pp. 246–250).
, Leviton,
1964:261.— Toriba, 1993:98.— David and Ineich,
1999:284.
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head and chin

smooth or irregularly keeled; second upper labial
fused to scale forming forming anterior border of
facial pit; a distinct light stripe, or at least a series
of light spots, present along outer scale row; dorsal
color yellow to greenish yellow with darker pig-
ments forming irregular spotted patches along mid-
dorsum; tail not distinctly differentiated from body
by color; hemipenes without spines.
SIZE.— Snout-vent length (♀) 587 mm; tail
length (♀) 97 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines
(Batan, Sabtang, and Cagayan Ids.).
REMARKS.— See remarks above under FIGURE 51. ( ) , color
T. flavomaculatus. and pattern variants. Photo by Rafe Brown.
( ) (Griffin, 1909)
Schultz’s Philippine Pitviper
Figure 13
Griffin, 1909:601.— Taylor, 1922a:292.— Leviton, 1964:263. Toriba, 1993:105.—
David and Ineich, 1999:290.— Gumprecht et al., 2004: 37, 9 col. photos (pp. 288–289).
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head and chin smooth or irregularly keeled; first upper labial sep-
arated from nasal by distinct suture; second upper labial fused to scale forming forming anterior
border of facial pit; body scales in 21 [rarely 23] longitudinal rows at midbody; ventrals 187–203,
subcaudals 66–82; a distinct light stripe, or at least a series of light spots, present along outer scale
row; dorsal color greenish-brown to brown or purplish brown with 50–62 indistinct dark bars or
zig-zag lines across dorsum, each 2–3 scale rows wide; a distinct yellow line along outer, ventro-
lateral scale row; ventrals edged with black; tail distinctly differentiated from body by its light
color and without dorsal markings; hemipenes spinose.
SIZE.— Snout-vent length (♂) 706 mm, (♀) 1022 mm; tail length (♂) 162 mm, (♀) 198 mm
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Balabac; Palawan).
Genus Wagler, 1830

Pitvipers
Wagler, 1830:175 (Type species: Wagler, 1830:175).
DIAGNOSIS.— Hemipenes long, slender, deeply forked, spinose; first upper labial not fused to
nasal scale; second upper labial not fused to scale forming anterior border of facial pit; scales on
dorsum of head and throat strongly keeled; body scales in 19–25 longitudinal rows at midbody.
REMARKS.— See brief discussion in McDiarmid, Campbell, and Touré (1999:349), also David
and Ineich (1999:294). Resurrected from the synonymy of Trimeresurus and then included as a
subgenus by Brattstrom (1964:251), Burger (1971:109) and others but then recognized as a distinct
genus following the studies of Kraus, Mink, and Brown (1996:769).
(Gray, 1842)
Philippine Temple Pitviper
Figure 52B, E–F
Gray, 1842:48.— Taylor, 1922a:295, pl. 37, fig.1.
Guichenot Jacquinot and Guichenot, 1853:23, pl. 2, fig. 3.
, Leviton, 1964:265.
, David and Ineich, 1999:295 (doubtfully included in ).
, Vogel et al., 2007:31, figs. 25–26.
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head strongly keeled; body scales in 18–19 longitudinal rows
around midbody and 19–21 around neck; scales on snout along a straight line from rostral to level
of supraoculars (♂) 4–5, (♀) 5; scales on dorsum of head on line between supraoculars 6–8; ven-
trals 129–135, subcaudals 44–46 (49); color green-turquoise background in males, green in
females; postocular stripe black, rarely white in both males and females. (After Vogel et al. 2007:31
et seq.)
SIZE.— Total length (♂) 455 mm; tail length (♂) 65 mm.
DISTRIBUTION.— Endemic to Philippines (Leyte; Mindanao [Prov.: Agusan Del Norte, Bukid-
non, Cotabato, Davao del Sur]; Samar).
REMARKS.— Tropidolaemus philippensis and T. subannulatus were formerly included in the
ubiquitous species T. wagleri. Recent studies have indicated that several recognizeable species
have been inappropriately parading under that nominal taxon, T. philippensis among them, known
from Leyte, Samar, and southern and northeastern Mindanao. However, on the large and topo-
graphically diverse island of Mindanao, and on careful examination, the Zamboanga and northern
Sulu (Basilan) population also appears to be quite distinct from populations inhabiting other parts
of the island, although Vogel et al. (2007) had referred them to T. philippensis. Recent unpublished
studies by the authors suggest that it may be a distinct species for which the name T. hombronii
Guichenot in Jacquinot and Guichenot, 1853 (type locality, Zamboanga) is available. Thus, this
taxon will have to be resurrected from the synonymy of T. philippensis to accommodate the Zam-
boanga and northern Sulu (Basilan) population. Furthermore, a recently documented population of
Tropidolaemus found on Leyte bears a strong resemblance to T. philippensis (Fig. 48B) but also
T. subannulatus (see Vogel et al. 2007:30, fig. 24 from Negros Id.). We have refrained from sug-
gesting any changes at this time because this also is said to be under study by Vogel and David (see
also remarks under Trimeresurus flavomaculatus and Tropidolaemus subannulatus).
(Gray, 1842)
Philippine Temple Pitviper
Figures 5A–B, 11, 12A –C, 52A, C–D
Gray, 1842:48.
(part), Taylor, 1922a:296.— Leviton, 1964:265.— Toribe, 1993:108.— David and Ine-
ich, 1999:295.
(part), Burger, 1971:110.— (part) Gumprecht et al., 2004:41–42, 8 col. photos (pp.
339–340).
, Vogel et al., 2007:23.
DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head and chin strongly keeled; internasals not in contact, separat-
ed by 2 [rarely 1] scales; scales on snout along a straight line from rostral to level of supraoculars,
(♂) 4–7, (♀) 5–8; scales on dorsum of head on a line between supraoculars 9–16; 3 upper labial
usually separated from subocular scale by 1 or 2 scales; body scales in 21–23 longitudinal rows at
midbody (♂), 21–29 rows (♀); ventrals (♂) 128–148, (♀) 127–147; subcaudals (♂) 45–53, (♀)
40–54; body color above, variable, green or blue in females, green in males and juveniles (but blue
in some Negros populations), belly, (♀) uniform or with blue or red blotches, (♂) and juveniles uni-
form or with red spotting. (After Voget et al. 2007:23 et seq.)
SIZE.— Total length 963 mm (Snout-vent length 820 mm; tail length 143 mm.) for largest
(♀)and 463 mm (Snout-vent length 384 mm; tail length 79 mm.) for largest (♂) reported by Vogel
et al. (2007:23).
DISTRIBUTION.— Philippines (Balabac; Basilan; Bohol; Dinagat; Jolo; Leyte; Luzon [Prov.:
Albay, Bulacan, Cavite, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Isabela, Quezon]; Mindanao [Prov.: Agusan
del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga]; Negros [Prov.: Negros Occidental,
Negros Oriental]; Palawan; Panay; Samar, Sibutu; Tumindao; Sulu Archipelago). Elsewhere:
Malaysia (Borneo [Sabah, Sarawak]); Indonesia (Belitung, Borneo [Kalimantan], Buton, Sangihe
Archipelago, Sulawesi) (see Vogel et al. [2007:23, 31] for details).
REMARKS.— Given the variation observed among samples of this species studied by Vogel et
al. (2007), they concluded, “We refrain from giving a more detailed description here, as the varia-
tion among this species or complex of species will be discussed in the next and forthcoming paper
of the series. A splitting into several taxa seems to be likely.” (Vogel et al. 2007:23.)
FIGURE 52. populations from: (A) cf. from Makiling, Luzon (but likely a
distinct species); (B) Leyte ( ) (but see Remarks); (C) Mt. Bulusan, Sorsogon Prov., Luzon (cf.
; female); (D) ; (E–F) Samar ( ). Photos A–C by Rafe Brown, D–F by Cameron D. Siler.
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APPENDIX A
Glossary
See also diagrams of head and body scalation in a typical snake on page 8
For additional terms, see Peters, James A. 1964. . Hafner Publ. Co.,
New York. vii + (1) + 362 + (30 pp. figs.)
anal plate: (see precloacal scale).

anterior: in front or toward the front; the head as the most anterior portion of the body [its oppo-
site, posterior {q.v.}].
arboreal: inhabiting or frequenting trees, including animals that spend at least part of the time in
trees or high bushes.
azygous: not one of a pair; a single scale, usually on the midline as a single, median head scale.
body scale rows: see scale rows (body).
caudal: tail.
clade: a group of phylogenetically related organisms that is defined by features exclusive to all its
members and that distinguish the group from all others.
cloaca: chamber just anterior to the base of the tail; it receives all digestive, excretory, and repro-
ductive materials prior to their exit to the outside through the vent.
distal: away from; behind the point of origin or attachment; e.g., behind and away from the front
end or head region measured from a refernce point that is more forward.
dorsal (above): toward the back or upper side of head or body [its opposite, ventral {q.v.}].
dorsum: the back or upper side of body.
hemipenis (plural, hemipenes): one of a pair of male copulatory organs; at rest, the hemipenes are
stored in a cavity in the tail; during copulation, only one is everted; it appears like a bulbous
finger of a glove, is often highly ornamented organ, and protrudes from the vent opening.
imbricate: overlapping [as opposed to juxtaposed {q.v.}], when one scale overlaps the one imme-
diately behind. [its opposite, juxtaposed {q.v.}].
juxtaposed: placed side by side, not overlapping [its opposite, imbricate {q.v.}].
keels: raised elongate ridges on scales, usually in median position on head and/or body scales.
labial scales: scales bordering the lips of the mouth, those bordering the upper lip are upper or
supralabials, the lower lip, lower, sub- or infralabials.
lateral: the side.
longitudinal: entending along the long axis of the body, from head to tail.
loreal scale: a scale on the side of the head placed between the eye and the nostril; usually sepa-
rated from the anterior border of the eye orbit by a preocular scale [q.v.], which may be divid-
ed by a horizontal grove into two scales, and from the nostril by the posterior portion of the
nasal scale [q.v.]; in the absence of a loreal scale, the nasal and preocular scales are in contact
with one another.
nasal scale(s): scale pierced by the nostril; scale may be divided by a suture into anterior and pos-
terior segments.
occipital scale(s): usually a pair of enlarged scales at the rear end of the head behind the enlarged
parietal scales [q.v.]; occasionally a single, small scale partially inserted betwen the parietals
along their posterior edge or several small scales bordering the parietals behind.
parietal scales: a pair of enlarged scales on the posterior part of the dorsum of the head, usually
the last of the enlarged head scales.
posterior: behind or toward the rear [its opposite, anterior {q.v.}].
postocular scale(s): one or more scales that border the back edge of the eye orbit.
precloacal scale (often termed anal scale or plate): enlarged scale following last ventral scale that
overlies the cloacal or vent opening; scale may be single or paired.
preocular scale: one or more scales that border the front edge of the eye orbit (but see also loreal
scale above).
proximal: next to or nearest to point of origin or attachment; toward the front end or head region
from a refernce point that farther behind.
scales, scutes, shields: frequently used interchangeably. However, scutes and shields are usually
larger structures than scales, which term is most often used to described the smaller structure
that adorn the dorsum of the body. Scutes and shields are terms usually reserved to describe the
belly scales as well as the scales on the head and chin. To avoid confusion, we have used the
term scale(s) to describe all the epidermal structures on the snakes.
scale rows (body): scales on the upper and sides of the body, usually arranged in parallel longtiu-
dinal rows; the number of transverse rows (rows across the body) are counted beginning with
the first row on the side that is in contact with the enlarged ventrals and counting to the oppo-
site side.
sensory pit: a deep depression on the side of the head between the nostril and the eye of some
viperine snakes (pitvipers) that contains an infrared (heat) sensory receptor at its base; in
pitvipers the pit occurs on each side in the loreal scale.
snout-vent length: straight-line distance measured from the tip of snout to the posterior edge of
the anal orifice.
subcaudal scales: enlarged plate-like scales on the underside of the tail, usually paired but occa-
sionally undivided.
subocular scale(s): one or more scales lying between eye and upper labial scales [q.v.].
tail length: straight-line distance measured from the vent to the tip of the tail.
temporal scales: scales on the sides of the head behind the eye and the postocular scale.
total length: straight-line distance from the front of the snout to the tip of the tail.
transverse (across): set crosswise, at right angles to the longitudinal or long axis of the body,
extending from side to side.
vent: opening of the cloaca to the outside, covered by an enlarged precloacal scale [q.v.].
ventral (below): ventrum, underside, or toward the underside (see also ventral scales).
ventral scales: transversely enlarged plate-like scales on the underside of the trunk extending from
the throat to the precloacal scale; among sea snakes, sometimes indistinguishable from adjacent
scales.
ventrolateral: a narrow region along the lower side where ventrum and side of trunk meet.
ventrum: underside of trunk from neck to vent.
APPENDIX B: INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES

(Images appear on pages that are boldfaced)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491
. . . . 473, 486, 487, 491, 499, 501, 509 Elapidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 481, 493, 513
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 509 Elapinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 493, 513
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 494, 495
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 485, 491, 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 486, 491, 501
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485, 491, 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486, 491, 501
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 479, 485, 487, 491,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493 501, 500, 510, 511
. . . . . 473, 489, 490, 491, 499, 501, 500, 512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 510
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501, 503, 508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 476, 477, 481,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 482, 491, 493, 494, 495
. . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 476, 477, 481, 482, 482, 491, 495
491, 493, 494, 495 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482, 491, 495
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482, 491, 493 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482, 491, 495
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476, 491, 495 . . . . . . . . . . 473, 479, 485, 486, 487, 488,
. . . . . . . . . 491, 495 489, 490, 491, 499, 501, 500, 503, 504, 505, 506,
. . . . . . . . . 491, 495 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 545
. . . . . . . . . . 491, 495 [ ] . . . . . . . . . 486, 487, 509
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477, 491 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . . 489, 490, 512
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482, 491, 494 [ ] . . . . 486, 487, 510, 511
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482, 491, 494 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486, 507
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . 486, 500
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494 [ ] . . . . . 485, 489, 490, 504, 505
var. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494 [ ] [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . 490
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . . 490, 509, 510
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496, 514 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .514 [ ] . . . . . . . . . . 486, 500
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .496 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491
Colubridae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491
Crotalinae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 515 . . . . . . . . 485, 486, 488, 489, 491, 503
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475, 480 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 491, 503
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486, 491, 504
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 491
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503, 504
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 491, 501, 510 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485, 491
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . 487, 488, 489, 491, 505, 506
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 503
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 510 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487, 489, 491, 506
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 506
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506, 508
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 491, 507
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487, 491, 507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 497

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 491, 508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
. . . . . 488, 489, 491, 506, 507, 508, 509 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476, 480, 491, 496, 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503 . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 496
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 496
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491 . . . . . . . 476, 481, 482, 483, 491,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491 496, 498
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 491, 511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483, 491, 496, 498
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488, 489, 491, 511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483, 491, 497
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491, 512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496, 497
var. . . . . . . . . . . 508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .491 var. . . . . . . . . . . 497
Hydrophiinae . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 499, 500, 513 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506, 511, 512, 513 . . . . . . . . 473, 480, 481, 482, 491, 497,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513 499, 523
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .506 . . . . . . . . . 480, 481, 482, 491, 497, 499
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 486, 491, 499, 501, 507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 477, 480, 483, 484, 491,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507 515, 516, 517, 518
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 486, 491, 501, 500 . . . . . 473, 479, 490, 491, 499, 501, 509, 510
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 509
. . . . . . . . 473, 479, 485, 487, 489, 490, 491, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 509
499, 501, 504, 505 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485, 487, 491, 504, 505 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
491, 504, 505 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 486, 491, 501, 512
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 512
. . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 485, 486, 491, 500, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
513, 514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 513
. . . . . . . 475, 485, 486, 491, 500, 513 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 514
. . . . . . . . . . 475, 485, 491, 500, 514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 486, 491, 500, 514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 499, 501, 512
Laticaudinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 500, 513 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 512
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 491, 501, 504 . . . . . . . . 473, 486, 491, 501, 500, 512
( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 500
( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
( ) . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 476, 477, 480, 483,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475 484, 491, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515 . . . . . . . 477, 491, 515, 517, 519
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477, 491, 493, 494 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 515
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477, 491, 493, 494 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 515, 517
. . . . . . . . . . 491, 493 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 517
. . . . . . . . . 491, 494 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 515
. . . . . . . . . . 491, 494 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477, 491, 517
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491, 506 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518
. . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 480, 481, 482, 483, 491, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515, 517
496, 497, 498 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477, 518
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476, 491, 518, 519 . . . . . . 473, 475, 476, 477, 478, 481,
[ ] . . . . . . . . 491 483, 484, 491, 515, 518, 519, 520
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 cf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520
( ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 480, 483, 484, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518, 519
491, 515, 516, 517, 518
. . . . . . . . . 476, 482, 491, 518, 520
. . . . . . 480, 483, 484, 491,
. . . . . . . . 474, 477, 481, 483, 491,
515, 516
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 518, 519, 520
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484, 491, 517 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518, 571
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484, 491, 518 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519 Viperidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 475, 481, 515
APPENDIX C: INDEX TO COMMON ENGLISH NAMES
Cobras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 496 Cogger’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504

Central Philippine Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496 Common small-headed Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . 506
Equitorial Spitting Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 Grey Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
King Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497
Half-banded Sea Krait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
Northern Philippine Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
Philippine Cobra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496 Hardwick’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504
Sumatran Spitting Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 Hooked-nosed Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510
Coral snakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473 Horned Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
Annulated Philippine Coral Snake. . . . . . . . . 495 Jerdon’s Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Barred Philippine Coral Snake. . . . . . . . 494, 495 Kloss’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Double-barred Philippine Coral Snake . . . . . 495 Lake Taal Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511
McClung’s Philippine Coral Snake . . . . . . . . 496
Lambert’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Philippine Coral Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494
Sulu Islands Banded Coral Snake . . . . . . . . . 494 Malayan Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
Two-striped Coral Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493 Many-banded Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
Pitvipers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473, 515, 517 Marbled Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
McGregor’s Philippine Pitviper . . . . . . . . . . . 517 Ornate Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
Philippine Pitviper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515 Pacific Yellow-banded Seasnake . . . . . . . . . . 504
Philippine Temple Pitviper. . . . . . . . . . . 518, 519
Pelagic Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
Schultz’s Philippine Pitviper . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518
Yellow-spotted Pitviper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515 Reef Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
Sea snakes and sea kraits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475, 499 Sea krait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Annandale’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502 Short Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504
Annulated Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501, 505 Southesast Asian Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
Anomalous Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502 Spiny-headed Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
Beaked Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510 Spine-tailed Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
Belcher’s Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
Stokes Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
Black-banded Sea Krait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514
Black-headed Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508 Yellow-bellied Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509
Brook’s Sea Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504 Yellow-lipped Sea Krait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
Brown-lipped Sea Krait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514 Yellow Sea Snake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511
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The dangerously venomous snakes of the Philippine Archipelago with

Chapter · April 2014

Rafe M. Brown Cameron D Siler

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Global Reptile Assessment by Species Specialist Group (International) View project

Biogeography and Systematics of Philippine Snakes View project

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

The Dangerously Venomous Snakes

Alan E. Leviton 1, Rafe M. Brown 2, Cameron D. Siler 3

Photographs by Rafe M. Brown, Arvin C. Diesmos, Dong Lin, Aaron Lobo,

The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of the Philippine Archipelago

Fieldwork was supported partially by a National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation

Identification Keys to the Species of Dangerously Venomous Snakes

G. Lateral and dorsal views of the head of a king cobra,

Diagrams of skulls of elapine ( ) (I) and crotaline viper ( ) (J) skulls.

FIGURE 4. Pupil of eye of ; loreal scale absent.

FIGURES 7A–B. Juneiles of (A) . and (B)

FIGURE 9. . FIGURE 10. .

FIGURES 11A–B. Lateral view of heads of (A) ( ) and (B)

FIGURE 13. ( ) FIGURE 14. ( ) .

FIGURES 15A–B. Variation in color pattern in ( ) .

17a. Nostrils lateral; nasals separated by internasals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

FIGURES 17A–B. Azygous prefrontal scale: (A) absent in ; (B) present in

FIGURE 22. [ ] . Photo courtesy of Harold Voris.

scale rows from neck to midbody.”

FIGURES 26A–D. (A–B) ; (C–D) Photos courtesy of Harold Voris.

FIGURE 28. [ ] FIGURE 29. [ ] [ ].

FIGURE 30. [ ] . Photo courtesy of John Tashjian.

Table of taxonomic equivalents for the Philippine venomous snakes

(east of the Straits of Malacca)

(also includes from Philippines);

THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO

SPECIES ACCOUNTS OF THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE

FIGURE 31. Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.

Genus Peters, 1862

FIGURE 34. Taylor, 1922. Illustrations by Emily M. Eng.

FIGURE 35A–C. A. B. C. . Photos courtesy of Markus Oulehla.

FIGURE 36. (Cantor, 1836). Illustrations by Marilyn Kramer.

FIGURE 37. . Photo by Hla Tun.

Genus Lacepède, 1804

DESCRIPTION.— Body nearly of uniform diameter throughout, cylindrical; 10–11 maxillary

Genus Krefft, 1869

Genus Latreille in Sonnini and Latreille, 1801

FIGURE 37. [ ] Shaw, 1802. Photo

ally encircling body, a narrow dark ventral stripe or

ventral stripe; in adults, ventral stripe and

FIGURE 40. (Gray, 1842). Photo courtesy of

[ ] (A.H.A. Duméril, 1853)

DESCRIPTION.— Head short, small, diameter of neck one-

FIGURE 43. [ ] (Linnaeus, 1758). FIGURE 44. [ ] (Lin-

SIZE.— Total length 1400 mm; tail

DESCRIPTION.— Head moderate, body not compressed ante-

DESCRIPTION.— Exceptionally thick-bodied sea snake with

Genus Laurenti, 1768

(Reinwardt Schlegel, 1837)

DESCRIPTION.— Scales on head and chin

Genus Wagler, 1830

A ,A C. 1986a. Vol. X. . Natural

. Azemiops S.A., Aïre-Geneva, Switzerland.

R , A. C., C. L . 1955. Snakebite mortality in the Philippines.

T ,M . 1993. Günther, 1864. Pages 195–196 Philippe Golay et al., eds.,

anal plate: (see precloacal scale).